Lucknow Super Giants looked well set at 87/0 halfway through their innings against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, owing to the partnership between Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. But what followed left both fans and cricket experts puzzled¡ªnot least because of Rishabh Pant¡¯s unusual delay in coming out to bat.
Markram¡¯s 52 off 33 balls gave LSG early momentum, supported ably by Marsh. But Markram's dismissal in the final ball of the 10th over triggered a sharp slide. Delhi¡¯s bowlers, led by Dushmantha Chameera and Mitchell Starc, began picking up wickets regularly. Starc cleaned up Nicholas Pooran for just 9, and soon after, Mukesh Kumar struck a double blow in the same over¡ªremoving Abdul Samad and Marsh.
The final overs saw Ayush Badoni and David Miller attempt a rebuild, adding 49 for the fifth wicket. Badoni¡¯s 36 off 21 gave LSG a small lift, but Mukesh returned in the last over to remove him and Pant¡ªwho came in at No. 7. Pant faced just one delivery and was dismissed for a duck, raising questions about why the experienced batter came in so late.
Social media was flooded with criticism. ¡°Rishabh Pant must have thought, ¡®If I come to bat too early, I¡¯ll get out¡¯¡ Then he thought he¡¯d hit a six or two in the end and take credit. Everything¡¯s ruined. Let¡¯s laugh on Sanjiv Goenka,¡± wrote one user.
Another fan compared Pant to MS Dhoni, writing, ¡°Ye Rishabh Pant khud ko Dhoni samaj raha h kya jo last over me batting ko aa gaya?¡±?
A third user said, ¡°Rishabh Pant should have come to bat early, can¡¯t see him batting at No. 7.¡±
Others looked ahead to international cricket. ¡°Pant¡¯s form is so awful. The England series will be very crucial. If he doesn¡¯t perform, he might be dropped from the India team,¡± said a user.
The batting unit also drew heat. ¡°How can LSG end up with 160 after such a good start? Without Nicholas Pooran scoring, LSG¡¯s batting doesn¡¯t look good,¡± one post read.
Pant¡¯s form and delayed entry have left fans unconvinced ahead of bigger fixtures, both for LSG and potentially for India.
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