Rishabh Pant Takes the Helm: New Captain for LSG IPL 2025

CricketPandit

Rishabh Pant has been officially named the captain of Lucknow Super Giants for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Previously the captain of Delhi Capitals, Pant decided to enter the auction ahead of the 18th season and became the most expensive player in IPL history, with the Super Giants acquiring the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter for a staggering INR 27 Crore.

“I want to extend a personal thank you to (Sanjiv Goenka, team owner), thank you sir, and to the entire LSG management for placing your trust in me. I promise to give my 200%, and that’s my commitment to you,” Pant expressed during a press conference held at the RPSG House in Kolkata on Monday (January 20). “I will do everything in my power to repay the faith you have shown. I’m really excited to be part of the team and look forward to a fresh start, bringing new energy, and just having a great time out there.”

The Super Giants kicked off the bidding for Pant, who entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 Crore. After fending off competition from Royal Challengers Bengaluru and then Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Super Giants bid INR 20.75 Crore, which was matched by the Capitals using the RTM. The Super Giants then raised the bid to INR 27 Crore, in line with the new IPL auction rules that allow the original bidder to increase the price after the RTM card is used, securing the 27-year-old Pant.

The Super Giants were in search of a captain, ideally an Indian player, after parting ways with KL Rahul. Pant was their first acquisition in the auction, and they set about assembling a revamped squad with a strong focus on an India-centric pace attack.

The Super Giants have retained key players like Nicholas Pooran (21 Cr), Ravi Bishnoi (11 Cr), Mayank Yadav (11 Cr), Mohsin Khan (4 Cr), and Ayush Badoni (4 Cr). They also made significant overseas signings, bringing in Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and David Miller, while bolstering their pace attack with Avesh Khan (9.75 Cr) and Akash Deep (8 Cr). However, the team will heavily depend on their overseas talent in the batting lineup, particularly in the top order.

“I’m definitely happy with the team,” Pant stated. “We have a good blend of youth and experience. Personally, as you mentioned, we haven’t reached where we aimed to be, but that’s part of the journey. We’re all here together to elevate this franchise to new heights and beginnings. That’s the essence of this collaboration, I believe. Let’s work together to achieve something special and enjoy the journey.”

This will be Pant’s second IPL team as captain, having led the Capitals from IPL 2021 until last season. He missed the entire 2023 IPL season due to recovery from a serious road accident.

“I’ve learned a lot from various captains and seniors. There’s so much to gain from all of them, not just the captains. It’s hard to pinpoint specific lessons. From Rohit [Sharma] bhai, I’ve learned the importance of caring for players. I believe that if you instill confidence and trust in a player, they can achieve things beyond your expectations for both themselves and the team.

“That’s the philosophy we want to embrace. We’ll support our players, build trust, and maintain clear communication about their roles. That’s the plan. And one key principle is to have a never-give-up attitude. We fight until the last ball, and that’s something I always stress. Performance will fluctuate, but that spirit is essential.”I remember when you walked into the Delhi Daredevils dressing room right after your under-19 stint with India. At that time, I was leading the Delhi Daredevils. Watching you develop into a remarkable cricketer, navigating through your challenges, and evolving into a batter who sets new standards and approaches the game with a fresh perspective is truly commendable.

I just want to wish you all the best with this franchise. Together, we have a lot to achieve, and you personally have so much to contribute to this wonderful game of cricket. We are embarking on this journey filled with hopes and aspirations, said Zaheer, who emphasized the importance of adopting a fearless style of cricket to define the team.

With the backing of such a dedicated owner, Mr. Goenka, who is eager to provide LSG with the platform and freedom to express ourselves, we aim to accomplish great things for this team. We have a brand to build, and LSG is set to be a team that plays fearless and exciting cricket, one that will definitely be worth watching in the coming years.

This is the journey we are on, and we seek your support along the way. We want more and more people to connect with this franchise, to start following it, and to embrace it with love. We will earn your respect and admiration through our performances and actions on the field as a team. That’s what we aspire to achieve, said the former left-arm pacer.

Meanwhile, Goenka, who also owns Mohun Bagan Super Giant, hopes the Lucknow franchise can mirror the success of the football team. He also mentioned successful teams like the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings as benchmarks for the IPL.”Very optimistic,” Goenka remarked about the Super Giants’ prospects. “You might recall that a few seasons back, many of you were dismissing Mohan Bagan. You were counting us out. But we made a comeback. We returned with a strong resolve. Similarly, have faith in us (Super Giants). Stand by us. I promise you that LSG will not let you down.

“You know, we draw inspiration from everyone who achieves success. Look at the Mumbai Indians. Look at CSK. Observe how they conduct their affairs. Notice the consistency they maintain. The stability they possess. The drive that Rohit and Mahi [MS Dhoni] instill in the team. We need to learn from that. Every day is a learning opportunity. You make mistakes, you grow from them. You stumble, you get back up, and you push harder. So yes, our goal is to please our fans. Hopefully, we will rise to the occasion.”