IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant defends sliding down the order against LSG

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant on Tuesday defended his decision to bat at No. 7 in their IPL 2025 match against the Delhi Capitals (DC), insisting that he was sent in to `capitalise on the wicket`.

Explosive batter Abdul Samad was promoted ahead of Pant, despite Pant having top-scored for his side in their previous home game against Chennai Super Kings on April 14, where he scored 63 runs off 49 balls. However, Samad managed only two runs off eight balls. Pant, coming in lower down the order, was dismissed for a two-ball duck.

“The idea was to like capitalise. We sent Samad to capitalise on a wicket like that. After that (David) Miller came in and we just got stuck in the wicket. Eventually, these are the things we`ve got to figure out and try to find our best combination going forward,” said Pant, during the post-match conference.

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Speaking further, the left-hander noted that even the toss played a huge role, suggesting that the team batting second often holds an advantage in scoring.

“We knew we were 20 runs short. Toss played a big part. Whoever is bowling first, they get a lot of help from the wicket. We just had to stay back, we couldn`t get it away. It always happens in Lucknow, the wicket gets better and better to bat on, that`s how the game goes and you can`t be complaining. Yes, toss is playing a huge part, but we are not looking for excuses,” he explained.

Pant`s animated chat with Zaheer Khan in dugout

After his dismissal, Pant was seen engaged in a heated conversation with team mentor Zaheer Khan in the dugout. His first outburst appeared during the 19th over, as he sat padded up, waiting for his turn to bat.

It also seemed that LSG might be overcomplicating their strategy, attempting to use Mayank Yadav as an impact substitute for Ayush Badoni—something they have yet to execute successfully.

“That is one idea (Mayank as impact sub), why we are `impacting` Ayush, to get Mayank some game time, just trying to find ways to get him early in the season because it`s already halfway around. He came from the NCA now, just trying to fit him in.”

Chasing a target of 160, DC opener Abhishek Porel scored 51 runs off 36 balls, including five boundaries and a six. KL Rahul finished the match unbeaten, scoring 57 runs off 42 balls, which included three boundaries and three sixes. Delhi Capitals won the IPL 2025 match by eight wickets against the Lucknow Super Giants.

(With PTI Inputs)