The Indian Premier League has forever been a breeding ground for friendships and enmities, the former fortunately a more common phenomenon. A prime example of the same is the relationship between former teammates Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel who did not shy from bantering despite becoming rivals now.
The Lucknow Super Giants arrived at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam on Monday all set to begin their Indian Premier League 2025 campaign under new leadership in Rishabh Pant with Delhi Capitals waiting at the den. The match-up had narratives running through every fibre of its being, given Pant’s departure from Delhi after representing them for seven seasons and being picked up by the Sanjeev Goenka-owned franchise for an auction record INR 27 crores by beating Delhi Capital’s Right to Match. The swap in teams meant Delhi were in search of a new skipper, one they found in veteran Axar Patel, and the two men met again at the coin toss on Monday wearing different jerseys for the first time since 2018. Amusing banter ensued.
The coin was in Axar’s head who flipped it high into the sky while Pant cried out heads which turned out to be the wrong choice. The Delhi captain was clear to let his compatriot know his team intended to bowl first, as he conveyed the same to presenter Murali Kartik, but Pant was having none of it as he hijacked the mic from Axar and declared batting first a couple of times in an attempt to deceive all involved. Axar could not help but break into giggles at the intervention before quickly shoving him away to carry on with proceedings.
The two men contuned to banter all the way back to their respective teams after the toss as well while Twitterati ate their hearts out.
Moment of the day!
Lol!
No batting first this time! 😄
— 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨 (@The_Global_X) March 24, 2025
Kya bola batting first 😭
Full time bakchodi chlti hai iski 💀pic.twitter.com/qZYSdEsIol— Spiderman Pant (@cricwithpant) March 24, 2025
Funny Moment!
Their Bond!
Axar wins the toss.
Axar :- We are bowling first.
Pant :- Batting first ? Hein Batting first ?
Top tier bakchod 😭😭🙏🏻🙏🏻— Dhruv (@I_m_dhruv_) March 24, 2025
“Brotherhood on & off the field! ❤️ Rishabh Pant shares a warm hug with Axar Patel. True team spirit! 🫂🔥 #IndianCricket #Pant #Axar” pic.twitter.com/LhYCV1uhdV
— Cricket Learning (@cricLearning) March 24, 2025
Moment!
Bond !
Axar and pant for the toss 🥹❤️✨️
— Devansh. (@Nexusofjoy) March 24, 2025
Rishabh Pant hugs Axar Patel. 🫂❤️ pic.twitter.com/DYooYxHojV
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 24, 2025
Axar and Pant!
