IPL 2025: Welcome Nawab Rishabh Pant, new boss of Lucknow Super Giants

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There are two faces of Rishabh Pant, one as the international star who has been a stand-out for India in Test cricket and the T20 World Cup.

The second, someone who has been an underperformer in the Indian Premier League. There was no need for even an official press conference on Monday in Kolkata to reveal Pant as the skipper of Lucknow Super Giants, where Sanjiv Goenka spoke sky high about his Rs 27 crore buy at the IPL auction. First things first, IPL auction dynamics ae very difficult to understand.

Lucknow bought Pant not because of his IPL records, where he spent a long time with the Delhi franchise, Daredevils first and then the Capitals. They bought him as he is the rock star of Indian cricket.

Most people should remember Pant for IPL 2024 is the way he made a mind-blowing comeback. After having stared at death in December 2022 following a high-speed car crash, what Pant underwent was hell. He returned like a hero and the last IPL season was defining. Many former cricketers felt Pant would never be the same guy. He had put on weight, his knee had been reconstructed, though his rehab was great. Could he shoulder the load of the IPL, where there is so much travel, wear and tear and high pressure. Pant loves challenges and he then walked into the Indian T20 squad. The rest is history, as India won the ICC World Cup last year in the West Indies.

Most recent images of Pant are from the BGT Series, he was daring and dashing. And when he took body blows in the Sydney Test first innings to score 40 odd runs and then put on a class act in the second innings, Pant become God. He has a cult following and the Rs 27 crores spent by LSG on him may be huge in terms of purchases. The best part, Pant knows his brand value best and he is worth many more crores. Pant has his own company now which does his deals and endorsements. To be part of LSG is just a small part, that much even businessman Sanjv Goenka will know.

Sanjiv Goenka has compared and predicted Pant with two legends in IPL captaincy, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. These two are not only icons in the IPL but have proved their worth for India as leaders. Pant, surprisingly, has still not been groomed for leadership roles in Indian cricket, though, at one point of time, he was vice captain of the Test side. All this does not affect Pant, he is a delight on the field for his teammates, keeps chirping like a bird, and goads the bowlers. For those who have heard the stump chatter and how Pant needled rival batters in the BGT Series and also offered tips to the bowlers, he is very sharp.

That intelligent facet of Rishabh Pant, spark in his eyes and the glow on his face is what defines him as a genius. They say, left-handers are supposed to be very brainy. When you mixed intelligence with being fearless, it is dangerous. Lucknow is indebted to Pant, they have a new Nawab who will be a delight in IPL 2025. Everyone knows, this side is fairly new, when compared with Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders.

When Pant decided he was leaving Delhi Capitals, it was a very conscious decision. He wanted not just money but freedom. Pant cannot be caged, so LSG will be his new home, where he can fly. How he leads and what is his template, fans will see after the Champions Trophy. As one who loves challenges, Rishabh Pant will create history in many ways in IPL 2025.

If you think stats will define Pant in the IPL, that will be boring. Pant is an entertainer, lively and lovely. If sport needs characters, Pant fits the bill. He knows what has happened to KL Rahul in LSG, who wanted to run away from the franchise. Don't worry, Pant will not run, he will show he is bold and beautiful. After all, he has the looks of a Nawab.