IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals hit cruise control button, but what’s wrong with Rishabh Pant?

Add as a preferred source on Google

It was hard to tune into a Tuesday night IPL match full of 'josh,' even though a match-up between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants was billed as one for excitement. The sense of palpable outrage over the merciless killing of at least 26 people in Pahalgam by terrorists had disturbed the peace of mind of millions, cricket fans included. Before one says what does terror killing have to do with an IPL match, it does. It is for this reason India does not want to play bilateral cricket with tricky Pakistan. And it is also because of Pakistan being a terror state with no remorse, their cricketers have been banned from playing in the IPL.

In such an atmosphere, even in a club match like the IPL, the mood does become somber. Obviously, the match had to be played, though in what frame of mind the cricketers and fans were, cannot be happy. Delhi Capitals are looking unstoppable and the way they are plotting one win after another, it seems, Axar Patel's boys and Gujarat Titans can think of the Playoffs without worry.

Axar said he was not a 100 per cent fit for the match. It is not a major injury, but given the non-stop cricket and travel fatigue, a player can get jaded. To watch the left-arm spinner bowl first for an analysis of 4-40-29-0 was good. But the man who ensured LSG would be stifled and choked to death was Mukesh Kumar. At 31, the medium fast bowler knows, how it is to bowl in the IPL.

He began his career in Bihar, then shifted to Kolkata to be groomed better. Despite consistent performances in domestic cricket, the number of opportunities he got to play for India were very few. Never mind, some cricketers of pre-IPl era had retired without playing a single international match and riches. At least, today, Mukesh can ply his trade in the IPL, where he bowled as the situation demanded. It was not a great wicket in Lucknow, the ball was stopping and coming. Mukesh had to take inputs from his colleagues and bowl intelligently -- mix up the slower bowlers and yorkers.

At the top of the LSG order, Aiden Markram (52) and Michell Marsh (45) were playing hard cricket. Once Mukesh bowled Marsh, it was important. And then the same Mukesh got the wickets of Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni and Rishabh Pant, coming in at No.7. This was weird, Pant coming in at No. 7. This is not his batting order and certainly an Impact Players coming ahead of him and not making an impact has set the cat among the pigeons.

It is one thing to say a player is off-colour. Rishabh Pant as the most expensive player in IPL 2025 at Rs 27 crores is being dissected every day. What he did on Tuesday night was crazy, bat so low down. He has been using the batting order as if it is some staircase to walk up and down for cardio exercises. Tongues will wag, is Pant unfit or does he even need to play when his form is poor. If wicket-keeping is cited as a reason, there are more options available for that role in LSG.

The thing with Pant is he is usually full of energy on the field. Sadly, on Tuesday, he looked pale and would have realized LSG are struggling in this IPL. He spoke of the team being short by 20 runs, since LSG scored only 159 for six in 20 overs. That was an anaemic score by any yardstick. Pant will be in for tough times as his critics are mounting. Not to forget, his own boss at LSG is not very kind when it comes to performance appraisals with players.

A day back, there was a video of KL Rahul, the former LSG captain speaking on why he left the side. He was diplomatic but the articulation suggested staying at LSG was stifling. As for DC, they found in Abhishek Porel, just 22, another opening batter who performs with minimum fuss. He does not have a PR overdrive team for himself, which is good. To deliver consistently for Delhi is good. And at one-drop, KL Rahul, so familiar with the conditions at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, helped himself to strokeplay on a song as he produced an unbeaten 57 runs off 42 balls. KL showed, batting with freedom can be productive, when he shut out needless pressure. The number of runs he has scored in this IPL alone are massive.

As the teams head into the business-end of the IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals are on the top with Gujarat Titans at 12 points. LSG have 10 points, but they have played nine matches, on extra. To make it to the last four, LSG have to do something extra special. Lest one forget, one man hyped so high, fast bowler Mayak Yadav still does not get to play for LSG. He is the butt of ridicule, justifiably.