Lucknow Super Giants suffered a 37-run defeat, dealing a major blow to their playoff hopes.
Pant’s Struggles Continue as LSG Slip in Playoff Race
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant’s poor form in the IPL 2025 persisted on Sunday, as he was dismissed for 18 runs off 17 balls against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. LSG fell short by 37 runs, dealing a major blow to their playoff hopes.
Batting at No. 4—unlike in the previous game—Pant once again failed to make an impact. In the eighth over of the chase, he attempted to take on Azmatullah Omarzai with an aggressive lofted shot but lost grip of his bat mid-swing, sending it flying towards square leg. The ball, meanwhile, went safely into the hands of Shashank Singh at sweeper cover. Visibly frustrated, Pant looked skyward and muttered to himself as he walked off the field. In the stands, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka wore a resigned expression, mirroring the fans’ disappointment. He had earlier shown frustration when Nicholas Pooran fell cheaply during the powerplay.
Social media show no mercy to Pant
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant’s poor form in IPL 2025 continued on Sunday as he managed just 18 runs off 17 balls against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. LSG lost the match by 37 runs, severely denting their hopes of reaching the playoffs.
Pant, who was signed for a record INR 27 crore in the auction last November—making him the most expensive player in IPL history—has struggled throughout the season. In 11 matches so far, he has scored only 128 runs at a strike rate of 99.22, with just one fifty to his name. This marks his worst performance in any IPL season since his debut in 2016.
Batting at No. 4, Pant’s dismissal was almost comical. Attempting a lofted shot off Azmatullah Omarzai in the eighth over, he lost grip of his bat mid-swing, sending it flying toward square leg while the ball went straight to Shashank Singh at sweeper cover. Frustrated, Pant looked up and mouthed a few words before heading back. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, watching from the stands, looked visibly dejected—mirroring his reaction earlier when Nicholas Pooran fell cheaply in the powerplay.