Rishabh Pant’s Spectacular Century Overshadowed by LSG's Defeat to RCB

 Rishabh Pant, who took over the captaincy of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the 2025 IPL season following KL Rahul’s departure, endured a largely underwhelming campaign with the bat. Acquired for a record-breaking ₹27 crore at the mega auction, the wicketkeeper-batter struggled to find form, scoring only 151 runs across 13 matches—an output that drew considerable scrutiny.

However, the 27-year-old silenced critics in emphatic fashion on Tuesday night in Lucknow, delivering a blistering unbeaten 118 off just 54 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His innings, laced with 11 fours and 8 sixes, propelled LSG to a formidable 227 for 3 in their allotted 20 overs.

Despite Pant’s heroics, LSG fell short as RCB chased down the target with a remarkable partnership between captain Jitesh Sharma (85*) and Mayank Agarwal (41*), guiding their side to Qualifier 1 with an unbeaten 107-run stand.

Controversy and Sportsmanship: The 'Mankad' Moment

The high-octane match also witnessed a moment of controversy when LSG leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi attempted a run-out at the non-striker's end—popularly known as a “Mankad”—against Jitesh Sharma in the 17th over. Rathi pulled out of his delivery stride and dislodged the bails, prompting the on-field umpire to refer the decision to the third umpire. Sharma was ultimately declared not out.

Notably, Pant had already withdrawn the appeal, drawing mixed reactions. While some praised the gesture as upholding the “spirit of cricket,” others criticised the decision, arguing that a legitimate opportunity was missed and that Pant failed to support his bowler.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif lauded Pant’s dual acts of brilliance and grace, posting on social media:

Rishabh Pant stood tall today despite his team’s loss. First a stunning hundred and later withdraws the run-out appeal against Jitesh Sharma. Pant shows there’s more to sports than just winning and losing.

Diverging Reactions from Fans

While many applauded Pant’s sportsmanship, others questioned the rationale behind withdrawing a legal appeal. One user commented,

If a bowler is penalised for overstepping, a batter should also be held accountable for leaving the crease early. Disappointing from Pant not to back his bowler.

All Eyes on Sanjiv Goenka

The spotlight also remained on LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who faced intense backlash last season following a widely publicised on-field disagreement with former captain KL Rahul. The incident raised concerns about ownership interference and player morale.

With Pant now leading the team, Goenka’s reactions were closely monitored. Each defeat or misstep drew camera attention and speculation—would Pant receive similar public criticism? Thus far, Goenka has remained measured in his demeanour, though questions persist about the owner-captain dynamic moving forward.