IPL 2025: Sunil Gavaskar Backs Rishabh Pant to Bounce Back Stronger After Loss to Delhi Capitals

The cricket legend says Pant will learn from early mistakes and emerge more confident as a batter and captain in the matches ahead.

New Delhi, March 25: Following Delhi Capitals’ stunning one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar offered his support to LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, calling him an “intelligent cricketer” who will grow through setbacks.

Speaking on JioStar Match Center Live, Gavaskar reflected on Pant’s performance and said the young skipper has the ability to learn from early mistakes, especially after a tough night both with the bat and behind the stumps.

“Pant himself mentioned in the post-match interview that you often learn more from failures than successes. When you bat well, there’s less to analyze. But when you don’t, that’s when you reflect and improve,” Gavaskar said.

Pant, returning to IPL 2025 after a long layoff, had a forgettable outing. He was dismissed for a duck and missed a crucial stumping opportunity in the final over, which could have changed the outcome of the match. DC, who were 65/5 chasing 210, rode on Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 to seal a remarkable win.

Gavaskar remained optimistic and said that with 13 matches still remaining in the league stage, there’s plenty of time for Pant to find form and take command.

“He’s a smart cricketer. Once he gets some runs under his belt, I believe his confidence as a leader will soar. A captain who scores runs or takes wickets gains an edge in setting the field and making bowling changes,” he added.

Despite the missed stumping in the final moments, Gavaskar emphasized that it’s part of the learning curve for any returning player.

“This is just the beginning. The more Pant plays, the sharper he’ll get. I expect him to be more composed and impactful in the matches to come,” he concluded.

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Match Recap:

DC won the toss and put LSG to bat. Mitchell Marsh (72) and Nicholas Pooran (75) powered LSG to 209/8, before DC collapsed to 65/5. A stunning finish from Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam (39) secured the unlikeliest of victories with three balls and one wicket to spare.

Pant’s captaincy and missed chance behind the stumps came under scrutiny, but he has plenty of time in IPL 2025 to turn things around.