Rishabh Pant’s Disappointing Debut for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 Opener
Rishabh Pant’s highly anticipated debut for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2025 opener against Delhi Capitals turned out to be a forgettable affair, as he was dismissed for a six-ball duck on Monday. His former franchise, Delhi Capitals, staged a stunning comeback despite explosive innings from Nicholas Pooran (75) and Mitchell Marsh (72), ultimately restricting LSG to a below-par total of 209/8 in their Indian Premier League clash.
Rishabh Pant returns to the pavilion after a six-ball duck on his debut for LSG. (Sportzpics Photo)
Explosive Start by LSG Openers
LSG openers wasted no time in attacking the bowlers on a pitch that offered little assistance. Mitchell Marsh, in phenomenal touch, hammered six sixes and an equal number of boundaries, bringing up his fastest IPL fifty in just 21 balls. Pooran complemented him brilliantly, unleashing breathtaking strokeplay and smashing 75 off only 30 balls, featuring seven sixes and six fours.
At one stage, LSG seemed well on course for a mammoth total exceeding 240, but Delhi Capitals’ bowlers turned the tide in remarkable fashion. Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-20-2) produced a masterful spell, varying his pace and flight to stifle the batters, while Mitchell Starc’s 3/42 further derailed LSG’s charge in the latter half of the innings.
Pant’s Struggles and Social Media Backlash
With LSG cruising at 133/1 in the 12th over, their innings lost momentum, managing just 76 runs and losing six wickets in the last eight overs. Rishabh Pant, who was expected to play a crucial role at No. 4, succumbed to the pressure and was dismissed without scoring. His early exit led to severe criticism on social media, with many users pointing out his hefty IPL salary of Rs 27 crore and questioning his contribution.
Marsh and Pooran Set the Stage for a Big Total
Marsh signaled his intent early, smashing 21 runs off the third over bowled by Starc. His ability to find the middle of the bat with sheer power and perfect timing left the Delhi Capitals bowlers scrambling for answers. Even though Vipraj Nigam managed to provide a breakthrough by dismissing Aiden Markram (15) inside the powerplay, LSG’s aggressive approach continued, as they reached their second-fastest team 100 in just 8.1 overs.
A crucial turning point in the innings arrived in the seventh over when Sameer Rizvi spilled a regulation catch at backward point, giving Pooran a lifeline off Nigam’s bowling. The West Indian batter took full advantage of the reprieve and made Delhi Capitals pay heavily for the mistake. In a particularly brutal 13th over, he launched Tristan Stubbs for four consecutive sixes, collecting 28 runs and showcasing his ability to clear the ropes effortlessly.
Pooran was equally destructive against both spin and pace, dispatching deliveries to the boundary at will. His electrifying 87-run stand off 42 balls with Marsh laid the perfect foundation for an enormous total. However, LSG failed to capitalize on their strong position, and their innings fizzled out in the death overs.
Delhi Capitals’ Bowlers Stage a Strong Comeback
The latter half of LSG’s innings saw a drastic shift in momentum. Kuldeep Yadav played a pivotal role in restricting the run flow, consistently deceiving batters with his variations. His ability to use flighted deliveries kept the LSG batters guessing, forcing them into errors. Pant, under immense pressure to deliver on his debut for LSG, fell victim to Kuldeep’s guile and departed without troubling the scorers.
Mitchell Starc further compounded LSG’s woes with his disciplined bowling, picking up three crucial wickets to put the brakes on the opposition’s charge. The loss of wickets at regular intervals meant that LSG never fully recovered from the middle-order slump.
David Miller fought valiantly till the end, but he lacked support from the other end as wickets continued to tumble. His 19-ball 27, which included two sixes and a four, at least ensured that LSG crossed the 200-run mark in the final over. However, the final score of 209/8 was far from the dominating total they had initially aimed for.
Despite a blazing start, Lucknow Super Giants squandered their momentum and failed to capitalize on the strong platform set by Marsh and Pooran. Delhi Capitals’ bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc, orchestrated a superb comeback to restrict LSG effectively.
Rishabh Pant’s debut turned into a nightmare, as he failed to make an impact with the bat, drawing significant criticism from fans and analysts alike. As IPL 2025 progresses, LSG will need to regroup and address their middle-order concerns if they hope to bounce back in the upcoming matches. For Pant, the journey ahead remains challenging, but he will be eager to prove his worth and silence his critics in the games to come.