IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant breaks silence on unusual batting position after LSG’s loss to Delhi Capitals
In a high-stakes encounter at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) slumped to a disappointing eight-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2025 season. While LSG’s innings began with promise, reaching 87/1 at the halfway mark, a string of middle-order collapses saw them post a modest total of 159/6 — a score that DC chased down with ease.
However, the biggest talking point of the match was LSG captain Rishabh Pant’s surprising decision to demote himself to number 7 in the batting order.
Rishabh Pant explains reason behind batting at number 7
Pant, who was picked for a staggering INR 27 crore in the auction and is widely regarded as one of the most explosive batters in T20 cricket, walked in to bat in the 18th over. His brief stay at the crease ended in disappointment as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck, further extending a lean patch in the season — he now has just 106 runs from eight innings at a strike rate below 100. Post-match, Pant addressed the unconventional decision, shedding light on the team’s thought process.
“The idea was to capitalize on the surface. We thought Abdul Samad could make the most of the conditions, and after that, we had Miller lined up. But then we just got stuck — things didn’t go as planned,” Pant explained in the post-match presentation.
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Pant on the turning point when momentum shifted away from LSG
On a pitch that eased out under lights, DC made short work of the target. KL Rahul led the way with a fluent 57 off 42 deliveries as Delhi coasted home in just 18 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.
Pant acknowledged the game slipped out of their control during the final overs of LSG’s innings and admitted the team fell short of the par score.
“We were 20 runs below where we should have been. In Lucknow, the toss matters a lot — the ball grips early on and eases out later. But that’s how it is, we aren’t going to make excuses. We’ve got to adapt better,” added Pant.
The loss has complicated the road to the playoffs for Lucknow. With five wins and four defeats from nine games, they now find themselves at fifth place in the standings, leaving little room for error in the remainder of the season. As the league stage nears its end, the Super Giants will be hoping for a turnaround — and for their captain to find his rhythm with the bat.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Fans go wild as KL Rahul powers Delhi Capitals to outclass Sanjiv Goenka’s Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana
