Former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has decoded Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant’s struggles with the bat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, pointing to Pant’s shot selection and mental approach as the main reasons behind both his personal slump and the team’s dwindling playoff hopes.
Pant’s poor form with the bat has mirrored LSG’s downward trajectory in the tournament. With five wins from 11 games and a net run rate of -0.469, Lucknow’s chances of making it to the top four are slim. One more defeat at home could knock them out of the competition entirely.
“The problem with Rishabh Pant is his shot selection. You can’t hit your way out of trouble every time,” JioStar expert Sidhu said during a panel discussion. “Maybe it’s the pressure of his own reputation that’s weighing him down and not allowing him to relax. It shows-his frustration is visible. As captain, he often loses his cool, and that gives the opposition an edge.”
Drawing comparisons with the ever-composed MS Dhoni, Sidhu underlined the importance of calmness under pressure. “Look at Dhoni-calm, composed, giving nothing away. Pant needs to tune his mindset, especially around shot selection. He needs to go back to the basics.”
Pant, who was bought for a record Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction last November-making him the most expensive player in the league’s history-was expected to lead LSG into a new era of success. With a star-studded line-up featuring Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and David Miller, the expectations were sky-high for Pant’s captaincy and a personal resurgence with the bat. For LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, Pant was not just a marquee signing, but a brand-defining figure-envisioned as the future face of the league alongside legends like Rohit Sharma and Dhoni.
However, six months on, the reality is far from that vision. Pant has struggled throughout the season, scoring just 128 runs from 11 matches. He has batted at No. 4, 6, 7, and even opened in one game, but nothing has worked. His highest score, 63, has been an exception in an otherwise bleak campaign. In one match, his visible frustration after being sent down the order led to an animated conversation with mentor Zaheer Khan-captured by cameras from the dugout.
LSG currently sit seventh on the points table. Even if they manage to win all their remaining games, their dismal net run rate-the lowest in the league-could still keep them out of playoff contention. “Even if LSG win all their remaining matches, their poor net run rate will hurt their chances,” Sidhu warned.
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