2 weeks Ago By Faham Uddin
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) made a great start to the important IPL clash against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and scored 87 runs in the first 10 overs, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram playing freely. Markram was dismissed for 52 on the last ball of the 10th over, and it all went downhill from there. Nicholas Pooran, the best LSG batter in IPL 2025, was outdone by Mitchell Starc.
At 99-2, it was a perfect platform for Rishabh Pant to lead the LSG batting; however, in a shock move, LSG sent Abdul Samad ahead of Pant. The logic behind the move was unexplainable as Pant, despite not being in great form, is one of their best batters. He had also shown glimpses of a return to form with a fiery fifty against the CSK, thus Samad's promotion was a shock to many.
Maybe LSG didn't want to expose Pant to Kuldeep Yadav, but if your best batsman can't face the best opposition bowler, then who will?Samad was dismissed for two, and Marsh followed soon. Still, there were no signs of Rishabh Pant. Pant eventually came to bat in the final over and was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
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: Rishabh Pant Slammed Over Demotion, Bizarre Samad- Badoni Moves; 27 Crore Price Tag QuestionedWas it Pant's decision to drop down the order, or was he wronged? A video of Pant, visibly frustrated, in the dugout is circulating in the media. In the video, the LSG captain was seen having an animated chat with mentor Zaheer Khan. embarassing from pant 🤢 https://t.
co/pSTn3lkScf pic.twitter.com/snbPkwAIwl— sᴜɢᴀʀ (@Sugar_Sai_Gill) April 22, 2025 Suresh Raina decoded Pant's reaction and said he was visibly frustrated for not being sent early.
"20 overs are left. You have to keep wickets and captain the side. You have to make your side win.
He is discussing that with Zaheer Khan. 'I told you, send me in, ' Raina said.Anil Kumble also echoed the same sentiments and said, "It's alright if you wanted to bat more freely under less pressure by coming in late, but this was way too late.
The kind of frustration Rishabh is showing is evident that he was wronged. He probably wanted to bat higher. Was it his decision? Or was it coach Justin Langer's or maybe mentor Zaheer Khan's? Whose decision was it? Because he looked very frustrated," Kumble said on Star Sports.
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