According to reports, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will likely announce Rishabh Pant as their new leader for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 in a special event, which is expected to take place in Kolkata. LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka has called for a media interaction, where the team’s jersey will also be unveiled.
Notably, Pant was released by the Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Although, the southpaw captained the side and emerged as their finest batter last season with 446 runs, he had disagreements on certain matters with the ownership group. As a result, both parties decided to part ways.
In the auction, the Capitals tried to bring back Rishabh Pant in a shock move by using their Right to Match (RTM) card on him at INR 20.75 crore. However, the Super Giants elevated their final bid to INR 27 crore, which put the Capitals out of the race. As a result, Pant became the most expensive acquisition in IPL history.
Meanwhile, LSG owner Goenka was not happy with KL Rahul’s leadership, despite them qualifying for the playoffs in two out of the last three seasons. As per reports, the 63-year-old wanted a player with a mindset to win the game and who look to keep the team’s interest first over their personal goals.
Notably, Sanjeev Goenka was spotted slamming Rahul after the side conceded a crushing defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After posting 165, the Sunrisers openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma turned as tormentors to seal the chase under 10 overs, which irked Goenka. Since then, there had been rumors of Rahul not being among the players to be retained by the franchise.
In the auction, Delhi Capitals splurged INR 14 crore to secure the services of Rahul, who is likely to be announced as the leader of the side as well.
Rishabh Pant might open for LSG in IPL 2025
As per the comments made by Sanjeev Goenka in December 2024, Rishabh Pant might be opening for the side in the forthcoming IPL season. Notably, Pant has opened in the cash-rich league on four occasions, scoring 104 runs in four innings at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 136.84.
The side also has potential options in the form of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, who were recruited by the side in the auction. However, the team management might opt for a left-right hand combination in the form of Pant and Markram/Marsh.
“Options are to open with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, Marsh and Rishabh Pant, or Markram and Rishabh. Now that is a call they have to take whether Rishabh will come at No. 3 or No. 2. Those are calls that frankly are beyond my capability and competence,” Goenka said in the interaction with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube.