Rishabh Pant’s struggles continued to haunt him as his woeful form persisted during the Lucknow Super Giants’ clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The captain of LSG faced a mere two balls before falling for just four runs—an all-too-familiar tale of frustration this season. His departure came in a bizarre fashion: a reverse sweep that went straight to short third man. This was a poorly executed shot by a player of his calibre. The ball, delivered full on the stumps by Will Jacks, wasn’t challenging enough to warrant such an ambitious stroke, but Pant still went low, attempting a reverse sweep. Unfortunately, he mistimed the shot, and it landed directly in the hands of Karn Sharma.
This moment highlighted the struggles of a player who is yet to find his form in IPL 2025. Pant’s season thus far has been far from what we’ve come to expect from him. With just 110 runs in ten matches, including one half-century of 63, his tally is disturbingly low for a player of his stature. If he doesn’t turn things around soon, Pant will register his lowest IPL run total since 2016—an unsettling prospect for both him and his team.
IPL Struggles: A Closer Look at Rishabh Pant’s Season
To put this in perspective, last season was a massive success for Rishabh Pant as he made a remarkable comeback. Playing for Delhi Capitals, he accumulated 446 runs in 13 matches, with three half-centuries under his belt. His performance was solid enough to keep him in the spotlight, making him one of the most valuable players in the tournament. However, this season, his form has taken a steep decline.
One major change in Pant’s IPL journey came when he was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering ₹27 crore during the previous auction. This made him the most expensive player in the history of the IPL, adding immense pressure on him to perform. Yet, despite this hefty price tag, his numbers have fallen well short of expectations.
With only 110 runs to his name in the ongoing season, Pant now faces an uphill battle to recover his lost form. If he fails to make a strong comeback, this will mark the first time in his IPL career since 2016 that he fails to score over 200 runs in a season. A far cry from his explosive reputation, Pant’s current IPL tally is a worrying statistic.
Mumbai Indians Dominate: Half-Centuries from Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav
While Pant’s troubles continued, Mumbai Indians were in full flow, riding high on a stellar batting display. Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav provided the fireworks, scoring vital half-centuries to guide MI to a challenging total of 215/7 in 20 overs. The innings was set in motion by Rickelton, who took full advantage of the opportunity to shine with a blazing knock of 58 runs.
Rickelton’s fifty came off a mere 25 balls, the fastest half-century of the season thus far. The sweltering heat and oppressive humidity seemed to have no effect on his game. Rickelton’s quick-fire innings set the tone, keeping the opposition on their toes and adding to the mounting pressure on Lucknow Super Giants.
Suryakumar Yadav, always a player to watch, then played his part with an innovative 54 runs off 28 balls. His strokeplay was a display of pure class, with some audacious shots that left the bowlers guessing. With this knock, Yadav became the highest scorer of the season, having amassed 417 runs in just ten innings—a remarkable feat for the Mumbai Indians' stalwart. His consistency with the bat has been a key factor in MI’s recent four-match unbeaten streak, making them one of the most dangerous sides this season.
Record-Breaking Milestone: Suryakumar Yadav
On the same day, Suryakumar Yadav added another record to his name. By reaching the 4000-run mark in the IPL, he became the second-fastest player to do so in terms of balls faced. This milestone highlights his incredible consistency and ability to score quickly, a key trait that has set him apart in the fiercely competitive IPL landscape. His aggressive approach to batting has been a hallmark of Mumbai Indians’ success this season, and he continues to build on his reputation as one of the best in the business.
Lucknow’s Bowling Effort: A Mixed Bag
Despite the challenging total set by Mumbai, Lucknow Super Giants’ bowlers showed some resilience. Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav were the standout performers with the ball, each picking up two wickets. Avesh Khan’s figures of 2-42 and Mayank Yadav’s 2-40 were crucial in keeping MI's score somewhat in check, especially as the match progressed. These performances gave LSG a glimmer of hope, but the task of chasing such a steep total was always going to be a tall order.
The other bowlers—Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, and Ravi Bishnoi—each managed to take a wicket, but the pressure from Mumbai’s dominant batting display proved to be too much. Though LSG fought hard, they couldn’t prevent Mumbai from posting a formidable score that ultimately proved to be beyond their reach.
The Road Ahead for Lucknow Super Giants
As LSG reflects on this defeat, there will surely be questions about their leadership, particularly Pant’s current form. While the captain has been a key player for the team, his lack of contributions with the bat has put added pressure on the rest of the squad. His leadership qualities are still highly regarded, but the team will need him to find his rhythm soon if they are to compete with the top sides in the tournament.
One potential silver lining for LSG is the performance of their bowlers, especially Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav. While they may not have been able to defend the total, their efforts suggest that the team has the firepower in the bowling department to take on the best. What they now need is a more consistent batting effort to match the quality of their bowling.
For Pant, it’s back to the drawing board. His form needs to improve drastically, or it could be a season to forget. Fans will be hoping that this talented player finds his mojo once again and leads his team with the same confidence and flair that made him one of the most exciting young players in IPL history.
What’s Next for IPL 2025?
As the IPL 2025 season rolls on, Mumbai Indians will be buoyed by their dominant performance, with players like Rickelton and Yadav continuing to set the bar high. With a four-match unbeaten streak, MI looks in excellent form, and their confidence will only grow as the tournament progresses.
On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants will need to regroup and refocus if they want to stay in contention. The IPL is a fast-paced tournament where things can change quickly, and a strong recovery could still see them challenging for a playoff spot. Pant’s leadership and form are crucial, and only time will tell whether he can rise to the occasion.
The IPL has a way of turning things around for its stars, and perhaps, the next match will see Rishabh Pant deliver a blistering knock that puts his form worries to rest.
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