When the Lucknow Super Giants invested a staggering ₹27.5 crore to secure Rishabh Pant during the IPL 2025 mega-auction, they set high expectations, making him the most expensive player in the league's history. As one of the two new franchises launched before the 2022 season, LSG had performed reasonably well in their initial two years, qualifying for the Playoffs in both 2022 and 2023 under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, finishing third in the points table. However, the 2024 season saw a decline, with LSG ending up in seventh place. Consequently, the acquisition of Pant was seen as a pivotal move to steer the franchise in a new direction.

Unfortunately, the situation has not unfolded as anticipated. With two losses in their first three matches, Lucknow is already facing criticism, with Pant at the center of the scrutiny. His disappointing performances in IPL 2025—scoring 0, 15, and 2 against Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings—have sparked concern. This was evident during a tense exchange between Pant and franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka following LSG's 8-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings.

In a revealing commentary, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged LSG to swiftly address the issues surrounding Pant. He expressed alarm over Pant's T20 performance, both in and out of the IPL, labeling it a 'huge shock' for the team. "Rishabh Pant hasn't been able to contribute significantly. His bat has been silent. They need to find a solution to his early dismissals. His struggles have been a major setback for the team," he remarked on his YouTube channel.

LSG had little chance to defend 171, says Harbhajan

Harbhajan believes that LSG lost their way as soon as they fell behind, and he is correct in his assessment. Aside from Nicholas Pooran's impressive 44 runs and Ayush Badoni's 41, the LSG batsmen struggled to display any resilience. Arshdeep Singh delivered a devastating performance, taking three wickets and limiting LSG to a total of 171/7, which PBKS easily chased down. Half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer, Prabhsimran Singh, and an unbeaten 43 from Nehal Wadhera propelled Punjab to victory, marking their second consecutive win as the 2014 IPL runners-up.

"LSG became stagnant. After losing the toss, they failed to score enough runs and let themselves down. Nicholas Pooran played exceptionally well but was ultimately dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal. Once Pooran was out, LSG's chances were significantly diminished. Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad added some late fireworks, bringing the total to a competitive level, but it was still a challenging target to defend against such a formidable Punjab batting lineup," Harbhajan remarked.

Finally, Harbhajan is impressed by Punjab's early performance in the IPL. As one of the only three teams from the original eight that has yet to win the IPL, he senses that this year could be different, especially with Ricky Ponting leading the team.

"Winning against Lucknow in their own territory demonstrates that they are playing exceptional cricket. Punjab is finally taking shape as a cohesive unit that is ready to compete. This team exhibits the qualities of a contender, and Ricky Ponting has inspired the young players in a way only he can," he stated.

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