You know that feeling when you’re trying to do everything at once—cook dinner, reply to texts, and catch the last over of an IPL thriller? That might just be Rishabh Pant right now. The Delhi Capitals skipper, back after a life-threatening accident, has worn multiple hats this season—captain, keeper, batter, motivator, and emotional heart of the team. But as the IPL 2025 dust settles and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) get bounced out by a blazing SRH side, all eyes aren’t just on the match result, but on Pant’s leadership and future.
Leadership isn’t always a ladder—sometimes, it’s a leash
Let’s start with the elephant in the dugout: Rishabh Pant’s batting hasn’t clicked this season the way fans expected. Now, cricket’s full of slumps—but when your captain and power-hitter isn’t firing, it adds a whole new layer of stress. As one expert pointed out, it’s not even about Pant’s captaincy decisions—some of which have actually been pretty solid—but more about his inability to find a consistent batting rhythm. He’s come in at six in one game, opened in another, and looked like he’s still searching for his old flow.
That kind of inconsistency isn’t helped when you’ve got the added responsibility of leading the side. Speaker 3 in the discussion made a great point: maybe Pant needs to just focus on himself right now. Let someone else take the wheel temporarily so he can get back to being the explosive, fearless batter everyone loves watching.
So, Who Else Can Lead?
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran. All three have captained their countries, and while they are overseas options (and it’s always difficult to accommodate them in the XI with balance issues), the experience cannot be debated. Of course, Indian fans always want to see a desi captain. But as Moody said, if you don’t have a reputable Indian captain option available, why not choose somebody with a proven track record?
We’re not looking to replace Pant permanently, but rather take some of the weight off of his shoulders for him to find his spark. Look at KL Rahul’s trajectory—a poster boy of someone who had to realign his game and leadership focus. And Rahul has been great! Perhaps Pant just needs a similar break. The franchise has a long-term view for him, but does he have to captain now?
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Is Pant Still Enjoying the Game?
One of the most striking observations came from Speaker 2: “I’d like to know if he’s still having fun.” That one hits different, doesn’t it? Because when Rishabh Pant burst onto the scene, he wasn’t just about runs or lightning-fast stumpings—he brought joy. He was cheeky behind the stumps, fearless with the bat, and impossible not to love.
But now? He looks tired. His pre-match interviews sound vague. He’s not giving off the same buzz, and that says a lot more than just numbers ever could.
This isn’t about doubting his ability. It’s about protecting it. If Pant isn’t enjoying the game the way he used to, then something has to change. Whether that’s a tweak in the batting order, a shift in captaincy, or just giving him the freedom to be Rishabh again, LSG owe it to themselves—and to Pant—to explore those options this off-season.
What do you think? Should Pant take a break from captaincy and just focus on his batting? Or is he the kind of player who thrives when everything’s on his shoulders? Sound off in the comments—we’ve got a long off-season ahead, and this conversation’s just getting started.
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