May 20, 2025: Despite a hefty ₹27 crore price tag and sky-high expectations, Rishabh Pant’s IPL 2025 campaign has fallen far short of expectations — a reality that both fans and teammates acknowledge. Following Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) elimination from playoff contention, Mitchell Marsh addressed the media and candidly reflected on Pant’s form, calling the season a tough one for the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter.
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“He would be the first one to say that he hasn’t had a season that he would have liked,” Marsh said. “But I know for myself personally that that’s the way cricket goes sometimes.”
Pant, who made his IPL debut in 2016, has endured his worst season to date, managing just 134 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate below 100 — a far cry from his usual explosive self. The underperformance has coincided with LSG’s dip in form, culminating in a six-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad that officially ended their playoff hopes with two matches remaining.
Marsh, who has been one of the few bright spots for LSG with 443 runs and five half-centuries, remained optimistic about Pant’s long-term prospects. “We know that he’s a fantastic player — highly skilled and highly talented — so he will be back. Hopefully, he can finish strong in the last two games.”
When asked about the team’s broader performance, Marsh deferred a full assessment until after their final two league games. “The time for reflection is probably after the season,” he said. “Right now, it’s about focusing on contributing to winning the next two games for our team and our franchise.”
“The IPL is a beast of a tournament,” Marsh added. “The margins are really small. We lost a couple of close games throughout the season that now have come back to bite us.”
As LSG look to salvage pride in their remaining fixtures, all eyes will be on Pant — not just as a leader but as a player seeking redemption in a season where little has gone right.