5 Key Insights: Rishabh Pant’s Calm Amid IPL 2025 Struggles and Team Updates

Remaining Unfazed: Rishabh Pant’s Professionalism in IPL 2025

Despite a challenging start in IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant, the Lucknow Super Giants captain and the priciest IPL player at INR 27 crore, remains composed. His scores have been low, and he’s managing an average of just 4.75 and a strike rate of 59.37. However, his team maintains confidence in his abilities.

“He remains dedicated to practicing and improving his batting. We’re confident that he’ll deliver when it matters most. He is still as chilled and relaxed as ever,” explained Shahbaz Ahmed, Pant’s teammate, on the eve of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Eden Gardens Pitch Report: A Spinners’ Duel

The pitch at Eden Gardens recently drew attention after KKR’s leadership team voiced concerns over its performance. Shahbaz, familiar with the ground in domestic cricket contexts, noted a difference in the behavior of the pitch:

• “Red-ball games tend to support pacers, but this wicket seems a bit slower and more helpful to spinners,” he observed.
• “Although it doesn’t turn much, it offers some assistance which might benefit bowlers, especially spinners.”

Strategic Preparations by KKR

According to Shahbaz, the Eden Gardens pitch has been strategically prepared to leverage KKR’s spin-heavy setup, led by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, enhancing their advantage in home games.

Team Updates: Injury Recoveries and Adjustments

The Lucknow Super Giants have faced challenges with injuries among their pacers, but there’s good news on the horizon:

• Shahbaz shared positive updates about the recovery of injured players like Mayank Yadav, now on his way back to full fitness.
• With Akash Deep and Avesh Khan already back to full health, the team is regaining strength.

Controversial Celebrations and Team Dynamics

Digvijay Rathi, another LSG star, has been in the limelight for his celebrations on the field, which have stirred up some controversy:

Having already accumulated three demerit points, he’s approaching a potential suspension. “We hope such incidents decrease as he gains more experience,” Shahbaz mentioned.

Note: The information presented here is an amalgamation of direct team insights and match-based observations discussed ahead of LSG’s next strategic plays in IPL 2025.