A moment of visible tension between Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant and team mentor Zaheer Khan became one of the major talking points during LSG’s heavy loss to Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 clash on Tuesday.
With just two overs remaining in LSG’s innings, cameras caught Pant already in full batting gear engaged in an animated conversation with Zaheer on the sidelines. The two were seen exchanging intense words, with Pant making strong hand gestures, suggesting a disagreement or a critical decision being discussed.
Pant, surprisingly, chose to bat at No. 7, coming in only for the final two deliveries of the innings. His brief appearance ended with him being bowled by Mukesh Kumar on the last ball, adding further fuel to criticism about his role in the batting order.
Commentators have speculated whether Pant’s demotion was a strategic call made in collaboration with the coaching staff or a decision influenced by internal confusion, as hinted by the sideline exchange with Zaheer.
This was only the third time Pant has batted at number 7 in the IPL, with the previous two occasions dating back to his debut season in 2016 for Delhi Capitals, then known as Delhi Daredevils.
Many expected Pant to walk in after Nicholas Pooran's dismissal, but LSG instead sent in David Miller, Ayush Badoni, and Abdul Samad all of whom failed to make an impact. LSG went from 87/1 at the 10-over mark to finishing with a modest 159/6, the lowest first-innings total at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
Rishabh Pant on batting very late in the innings
Speaking after the game, Pant addressed the decision to come in late. He said, “The idea was to capitalise. We sent Samad to go after it on a wicket like that. After that, Miller came in, and we got stuck. These are the things we’re trying to figure out to find our best combination. The toss played a huge part. Whoever bowls first in Lucknow gets more help from the wicket. We knew we were 20 runs short. But we’re not looking for excuses,”
