Rishabh Pant, the new skipper of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) became the most expensive player in IPL history when the franchise signed him for ₹27 crore during IPL 2025 Mega auction. However the former Delhi Capitals skipper had a disappointing start with the new team as they lost the match by a solitary wicket to Delhi Capitals.
Pant failed to make an impact with the bat, getting out for six ball duck.Besides poor batting Pant also committed a series of errors behind the stumps that ultimately contributed to LSG's defeat.
Despite the twin failure, Pant earned an amount of around ₹2 crore for the opening match, given the IPL’s format of 14 matches in a season. This means that, even with his poor performance, Pant's per-match fee works out to be above mentioned amount.
Rishabh Pant's performance against Delhi Capitals
Pant’s performance as a wicketkeeper was also not up to the mark. In the 15th over of Delhi's innings, Pant missed a crucial catch of Ashutosh Sharma off Shahbaz Ahmed's delivery. Had Pant taken that catch, LSG’s chances of winning could have significantly improved.
Later,in the final over of the match, Pant failed to stump Mohit Sharma, who was batting for Delhi at the time. This missed opportunity was another turning point, as Delhi were on the brink of losing with only one wicket remaining. If Pant had successfully stumped Sharma, LSG could have secured the win.
While Rishabh Pant's performance in the first match of IPL 2025 earned him a substantial paycheck, his mistakes both with the bat and behind the stumps were pivotal in Lucknow Super Giants' defeat. The match highlighted the pressure that comes with being one of the most expensive players in IPL history and the expectations that follow.
