'He has been good leader, his batting form was learning experience' - LSG mentor Zaheer Khan analyzes Rishabh Pant's IPL 2025 performance
“We're happy he finished on a strong note - that's the calibre he has, and the impact he can have on the game,” Zaheer said.
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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan said that the team never had doubts about Rishabh Pant's batting capabilities. The wicketkeeper-batter encountered difficult times with the bat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as the Super Giants couldn't progress through to the playoffs.
Pant managed just 151 runs from 12 innings in IPL 2025, heading into LSG's final game of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, May 28. The 27-year-old finished on a high, scoring a brilliant 118 not out off 61 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and eight sixes.
Zaheer said that Pant has done well as the captain of the side, despite LSG finishing at No. 7 on the points table with six wins and eight defeats from 14 games. The former Indian speedster feels that Pant's batting form will serve as a learning experience.
“Well, he's been good as a leader. That was a bright positive for us throughout the season. The form with the bat was definitely a learning experience for him, having this kind of season. But his ability and calibre are not in doubt. That's how we are looking at it,” Zaheer said in the post-match press conference.
“We're happy he finished on a strong note - that's the calibre he has, and the impact he can have on the game,” Zaheer added.
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant fined for slow over-rate
Jitesh's blitzkreig rescues RCB against LSG
On the back of Rishabh Pant's epic century and Mitchell Marsh's 37-ball 67, the Lucknow Super Giants posted a mammoth total of 227/3 in their 20 overs after being invited to bat first. In reply, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a dazzling start thanks to the in-form duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli. While the England wicketkeeper-batter failed to cash in on a good start, Kohli registered his eighth half-century of the season.
Thereafter, Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone were dismissed in the same over as LSG got back into the game. However, stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma slammed an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls, and his partnership of 107 runs for the fifth wicket with Mayank Agarwal (41*) helped RCB complete the run-chase in 18.4 overs with six wickets to spare.
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