Categories: CricketIPL

IPL 2025: “We Built the Team Around Him” – Sanjiv Goenka Backs Rishabh Pant After ₹27 Crore Gamble

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka shared why they picked wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He said that once Pant was not retained by his old team, Delhi Capitals (DC), LSG started planning their team around him.

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Sanjiv Goenka’s Vision: Building A Team Around Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore after Delhi Capitals let him go. He had been with DC since his 2016 debut and captained them from 2021 to 2024, except in 2023 due to injury. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka praised Pant’s leadership and said they were ready to pay even more. He believes Pant’s best captaincy days are still ahead.

“The moment we knew he was not being retained, we planned the team around him. I’ve said this before and I have no hesitation in saying it again. I believe he’s a great leader. His best leadership is yet to come,” Goenka said.

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“So 27 is the number we got him at. If it meant 28, that would have been the number. We were very clear, we needed a leader who trusts and backs his instincts, who is fearless, who’s destructive. And in Rishabh, we get all of that,” he added.

Rishabh Pant’s IPL Captaincy Record So Far

Rishabh Pant has had a tough start to the 2025 season, scoring only 17 runs in three matches with an average of 5.66 and a strike rate of 65.38. The Super Giants are currently sixth on the points table, with just one win from three games. Their campaign has been inconsistent so far, including a heavy eight-wicket loss at home to Punjab Kings. Injuries have also hurt the team, with Mohsin Khan ruled out and Mayank Yadav still recovering.

Rishabh Pant faced a lot of criticism after LSG’s loss to Delhi Capitals in their first match. LSG had DC struggling at 65 for 5 while defending 210, but Pant overused spinners and didn’t bring back Shardul Thakur, who had taken two early wickets.

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Pant’s captaincy record in the IPL stands at 24 wins and 21 losses in 45 games. While he led well at DC, his high price tag at LSG seems to be putting pressure on his performance. He’ll be looking to bounce back with both the bat and as a leader.

LSG will face Mumbai Indians next at the Ekana Stadium on Friday, April 4.

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Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.