'I just want him to be left alone' - Kris Srikkanth urges LSG to give Rishabh Pant a break

Former India opener Kris Srikkanth suggested that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should rest their captain Rishabh Pant in their last couple of games in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The wicketkeeper-batter has not been able to live up to his potential after being roped in by LSG for INR 27 crore at the mega auction last year.

Lucknow lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, May 19, after failing to defend a 206-run target at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. SRH romped home team in 18.2 overs with six wickets to spare. With this defeat, LSG became the fifth team to be eliminated from the race to the playoffs. Pant scored just seven runs in this fixture, getting out to Eshan Malinga.

The 27-year-old has only aggregated 135 runs in 12 matches at an average of 12.27 and a strike rate of 100. Srikkanth said that Pant should spend some time away from the sport. He pointed out that LSG would have to bring in new bowlers for the next season, now that there hopes of reaching the IPL 2025 playoffs have been squashed.

“I just want him to be left alone, they should say enough, just go and spend some time away. The season is over. Whatever they are planning for the next season — they have to change the core and bring in bowlers — they don’t have any bowlers in this team,” Srikkanth said.

Srikkanth opined that things are not working in Pant's favour even when he is captaining the side, as some of his decisions haven't been beneficial for LSG. The cricketer-turned-expert recalled how he used to invent new ways to get out when he used to play, and noted that Pant is leaving him behind in that aspect.

“Unfortunately, things are not going Rishabh Pant’s way. Even when captaining, be it bowling changes or field placements, he seems to be messing up in some form or the other. Things are not going his way. Even with the bat, he can just play freely and be bold, but he seems to be playing half-hearted shots with no clarity. Every game he is finding new ways to get dismissed. During my playing days I use to invent ways to get dismissed and Pant is doing worse than me. 30 years back I was like that, today he is finding new ways to get out — reverse-sweep, reverse-paddle, swinging wildly — all of it is happening,” said the former chairman of selectors