Former England captain Eoin Morgan emphasised the importance of the Lucknow Super Giants’ leadership group placing more trust in Rishabh Pant, despite the wicketkeeper-batter’s struggles in IPL 2025. Morgan pointed out that when a captain is out of form, it becomes even more challenging if the leadership group starts losing confidence in him.
Pant has accumulated just 106 runs in eight matches, averaging just over 10 in IPL 2025. The pressure of captaining a new franchise, along with a record-breaking price tag, seems to be weighing heavily on him. MI vs LSG, IPL 2025: Updates | Full Scorecard
In LSG’s recent defeat to Delhi Capitals at home, Pant was held back and only came in at No. 7. He faced just two deliveries, getting dismissed on the final ball without scoring. Pant appeared frustrated as he walked back to the pavilion, with LSG posting a modest 159 in their 20 overs.
During LSG’s innings, Pant, who had been padded up for some time, was seen having an animated conversation with mentor Zaheer Khan. This led to speculation that all was not well within the LSG setup, with their captain clearly under pressure.
DON’T SHY AWAY FROM BIG MOMENTS: MORGAN
Speaking to Star Sports, Morgan compared Pant’s situation to that of Hardik Pandya, who seamlessly transitioned into the role of captain for Mumbai Indians despite a challenging IPL 2024.
“There’s no such thing as easy leadership or easy captaincy. It’s hard regardless of how your side is performing. When you’re out of form, and the leadership group isn’t fully supporting you, it becomes increasingly difficult. A good captain tries to compartmentalise each part of the game,” Morgan said.
“For Hardik, he’s managing a seamless transition between his batting, bowling, and his decision-making for the team. In contrast, with Rishabh Pant, things seem a little muddled.
“I’m not sure if that’s due to mixed messaging within the group. There’s been a lot of talk about the middle order lacking runs, with suggestions like David Miller possibly batting at No. 4 and Pant moving down.
“When you’re out of form, all you want is for things to be as simple as possible, which allows you to perform under pressure. Stick with the guy you paid a fortune for, or stick with the guy who has world-class ability. If you instil trust in him, it becomes infectious. It’s similar to Hardik’s situation.
“You have to be authentic to yourself when captaining a side. You don’t want to see Rishabh Pant shying away from big moments. You need your key players and senior leaders to step up in those moments and take charge.”
Pant addressed the pressure after winning the toss and opting to bat in their crucial match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
“We are in a good space, and personally, it’s easier to put the team first, which makes it easier,” he said.
Despite Pant’s struggles, LSG are still in the playoff race, with five wins from their nine matches in IPL 2025.
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