Lucknow Super Giants owner visibly upset after Pant’s six-ball-7 against Sunrisers Hyderabad; fans question hefty ₹27 crore investment.
May 20, 2025: Rishabh Pant’s struggles in IPL 2025 continued on Monday, and this time, it wasn’t just fans who were disappointed. Cameras captured a visibly frustrated Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), leaving his seat moments after Pant’s dismissal during a must-win match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Ekana Stadium.
Pant, who has failed to deliver consistent performances throughout the season, managed just 7 runs off 6 balls before falling to a well-disguised slow yorker from Eshan Malinga. The ball popped off the bat, and Malinga completed the return catch, sending the LSG skipper back to the pavilion and the owner out of his seat.
Also Read: Abhishek, Klaasen Power SRH to Six-Wicket Win; Knock LSG Out of IPL 2025 Playoff Race
Magnificent Malinga! 🪽😮
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 19, 2025
Athleticism on display from Eshan Malinga as he grabs a stunner to send back Rishabh Pant! 👌#LSG 133/2 after 13 overs.
Updates ▶ https://t.co/GNnZh90u7T#TATAIPL | #LSGvSRH | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/5rSouA8Kw0
Sanjiv Goenka left the balcony out of anger after seeing 27 crores Rishabh Pant failing in back to back 12th game!! pic.twitter.com/MpOLClJ5rP
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) May 19, 2025
Acquired for a massive ₹27 crore at last year’s mega auction, Pant has scored only 135 runs in 13 matches this season—a return that has invited both on-field scrutiny and off-field criticism.
Also Read: CSK Coach Stephen Fleming Reflects on IPL 2025 Exit: “A Poor Year Has Shaken Everybody”
Monday’s match was crucial for LSG, who are still mathematically in the playoff race but are on a three-match losing streak. A win was necessary to keep their hopes alive and take them to 16 points, provided other results go their way.
At the toss, SRH skipper Pat Cummins chose to bowl first, citing uncertainty over the wicket. “We haven’t played to our potential,” Cummins admitted, noting that injuries and inconsistency derailed SRH’s campaign. Travis Head and Jaydev Unadkat missed the match.
Also Read: “All Good Now”: SRH’s Abhishek Sharma Clears Air on Spat with LSG’s Digvesh Rathi
LSG captain Rishabh Pant said his team was focused on taking one game at a time. “We have regrouped well and are in a good space,” he said. The only change for LSG was the debut of New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke.
Tags:
Rishabh Pant, Sanjiv Goenka, Lucknow Super Giants, LSG vs SRH, IPL 2025, Eshan Malinga, Pat Cummins, IPL Auction 2024, Will O’Rourke debut, IPL playoffs race