The 2025 Indian Premier League season was a mixed bag for wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. His bat was quiet in the first 13 matches, and his team failed to qualify for the playoffs. However, in the 14th and final match, Pant returned to his old form, smashing a stormy century. Despite this, his team still lost.
Pant’s performance in the 2025 IPL was underwhelming, to say the least. He scored just 269 runs throughout the season. In the team’s final match, he scored 118 runs off 61 balls, but it wasn’t enough to save his team from defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Assessing Pant’s Season
Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan believes Pant’s abilities and qualifications were never in doubt. “He performed really well as captain, which was a positive for us throughout the season,” Zaheer said in a post-match interview. “His batting performance was certainly a learning experience for him, given the importance of this season. But no one had any doubts about his ability and capability.”
Zaheer was pleased to see Pant end the season on a high note. “We’re happy he ended the season with a great performance. He has the capability to make a significant impact on the game,” Zaheer added.
Challenges Faced by the Team
Zaheer reflected on the challenges his team faced during the season. “When you start an IPL season, your first goal is to think about the playoffs and how you’ll get there. We had some key bowlers injured and out, and we did our best to overcome these challenges. Our batsmen performed well, which was a positive for us.”
In the end, despite Pant’s impressive century, the Lucknow Super Giants fell short. Zaheer’s comments, however, suggest that Pant’s capabilities and potential are still valued highly by the team.