Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for IPL 2025, marking a new chapter in the young wicketkeeper-batter’s IPL career. The announcement was made by LSG franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka on January 20. Pant, who was purchased by Lucknow for a staggering Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, brings with him a wealth of leadership experience, having captained Delhi Capitals in the 2021, 2022, and 2024 seasons.
Pant will become the fourth player to lead LSG in the IPL, following in the footsteps of KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, and Nicholas Pooran. Goenka revealed Pant’s appointment in an exclusive conversation with Star Sports, expressing his excitement about the decision.
“Very simple. That is about announcing the captain of LSG for the future, and that is Rishabh Pant. We decided on this the moment we won him in the auction, but we were waiting for the right moment to announce it together,” said Sanjiv Goenka.
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The franchise had kept a dedicated budget of ₹27 crore specifically for Pant, underscoring their strong belief in his potential as both a player and a leader. Goenka praised Pant’s passion, unique approach to leadership, and deep connection with the players.
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“Rishabh Pant isn’t just going to be the best player of LSG but of IPL itself. He has a different thought process, and his leadership will likely be the best the IPL has seen,” Sanjiv Goenka added.
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Reflecting on his captaincy style, Pant shared his proactive approach to leadership. “I’ve learned to be very proactive in the last 1-2 years, which helps improve communication with the players,” he said. Pant emphasized the importance of aligning the thought process with international players and playing percentage cricket. He further noted, “You don’t have to win every match – winning 60-70% of the games will still put you in the race, and over expectations shouldn’t spoil the season.”
