Rishabh Pant’s disappointing form in IPL 2025 persisted on Sunday. He was dismissed for just 18 runs off 17 balls in Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) match against Punjab Kings. The game took place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. LSG lost by 37 runs, significantly hurting their chances of making the playoffs.
A Comical Dismissal
Pant batted at No. 4, but his luck didn’t improve. In the eighth over of the chase, he attempted a lofted shot against Azmatullah Omarzai. However, he lost his grip on the bat, sending it flying towards the square-leg region. Meanwhile, the ball went straight to Shashank Singh at sweeper cover, who took an easy catch.
Frustration on Display
Pant walked off the field, looking up at the sky, clearly frustrated with his dismissal. His disappointment was evident. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who was present during the match, also appeared resigned. Earlier, he had shown frustration after Nicholas Pooran’s early dismissal in the powerplay.
Pant’s poor performance triggered harsh reactions from fans on social media. Many even called for his removal from the team. The wicketkeeper-batter was bought for a record INR 27 crore at the auction last November. This made him the most expensive player in IPL history. However, he has struggled to live up to expectations.
Below-Par Performance in IPL 2025
In 11 matches so far, Pant has only scored 128 runs at a strike rate of 99.22. He has managed just one half-century. This season has been his worst in IPL history since debuting in 2016. Fans and the franchise are both disappointed with his ongoing struggles.
