Heartbroken Rishabh Pant Reflects on LSG’s IPL 2025 Exit: ‘It Became Tougher and Tougher’
NEW DELHI: In a candid post-match interview, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant bared his heart after a crushing six-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday, which dashed their hopes of qualifying for the IPL 2025 playoffs. The loss marked the end of a rollercoaster campaign for LSG, a season marred by injuries and inconsistency, leaving Pant to reflect on what could have been one of their finest seasons.
From the outset, LSG faced an uphill battle. Key bowlers like Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, and the promising pace sensation Mayank Yadav were sidelined with injuries even before the tournament kicked off. Despite mid-season reinforcements with the addition of Shardul Thakur and the eventual return of Avesh and Akash, the team struggled to fill the void. Mayank, who had fans buzzing with his raw pace, managed only a fleeting appearance in a couple of games before injury struck again, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
“We definitely could have had one of our best seasons, but coming into the tournament, we had a lot of gaps due to injuries. As a team, we decided not to dwell on it, but it became tougher and tougher to fill those gaps,” Pant admitted to the broadcaster after the match. His words echoed the frustration of a captain who watched his meticulously planned bowling attack crumble under the weight of unforeseen setbacks.
Reflecting on the auction strategy, Pant added, “The way we planned the auction, if we had the same bowling lineup intact, things might have been different. But this is cricket—sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don’t. We take pride in how we played and focus on the positives rather than the negatives.” According to IPL stats, LSG’s bowling unit leaked runs at an economy rate of over 9 per over this season, a stark contrast to their batting prowess, highlighting the impact of their depleted attack.
Despite personal struggles with the bat—Pant managed just 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 22.28—he remained optimistic about LSG’s batting firepower. “We have a strong batting lineup with enough firepower, and that’s the biggest positive for the season,” he emphasized. Players like KL Rahul, who scored over 450 runs, and Quinton de Kock provided the backbone, often rescuing the team from precarious situations.
The campaign, however, lost steam as the tournament progressed. “In the first half of the season, we played really well, but in the second half, it became increasingly difficult to catch up with the teams on the brighter side,” Pant noted. LSG’s inconsistent run saw them win only 6 of their 14 matches, finishing outside the top four—a bitter pill for a franchise that made the playoffs in the previous two seasons.
Amid the gloom, a silver lining emerged in the form of young spinner Digvesh Rathi. The debutant impressed with his control and guile, picking up crucial wickets in the middle overs. “Rathi has come up nicely for us in his first season. The way he bowled is one of the biggest positives. But you need to keep improving and get better with each season,” Pant praised, signaling hope for the future.
As LSG heads back to the drawing board, Pant’s words resonate with a mix of disappointment and determination. The road ahead will demand strategic rebuilding, especially in bolstering their bowling reserves. For now, though, the focus remains on learning from a season of missed opportunities and nurturing talents like Rathi, who could be the cornerstone of LSG’s resurgence in IPL 2026.