• Source:JND
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LSG vs PBKS Highlights: When Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) splashed a record-breaking ₹27.5 crore to acquire Rishabh Pant at the IPL 2025 mega-auction, expectations were sky-high. The franchise, which made impressive playoff runs in 2022 and 2023 under Gautam Gambhir’s mentorship, hoped Pant’s leadership would take them to the next level after a disappointing seventh-place finish in 2024. However, things have not gone according to plan.

After losing two out of their first three matches, LSG is already facing pressure, with Pant’s form emerging as a major concern. The captain has managed scores of 0, 15, and 2 in his first three outings against Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings, triggering criticism from fans and experts alike. The situation escalated following LSG’s eight-wicket loss to Punjab Kings, where a tense exchange between Pant and franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka was caught on camera, fueling speculation about internal pressure. Check out the visual here:

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced concerns over Pant’s form, calling it a "huge shock" for LSG. He believes the franchise needs a quick solution to their "Pant conundrum", as the wicketkeeper-batter’s T20 performances, even outside the IPL, have been far from convincing.

"Rishabh Pant wasn't able to do much. His bat has been quiet. They will have to do something about him getting out early. He has been a big shock for the team," he said on his YouTube channel.

Harbhajan also pointed out that LSG lost control of the game early, as their batting lineup faltered despite decent knocks from Nicholas Pooran (44) and Ayush Badoni (41). On the other hand, Punjab Kings’ bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (3 wickets), restricted LSG to 171/7, which was easily chased down thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s fifty, Prabhsimran Singh’s aggressive knock, and Nehal Wadhera’s unbeaten 43.

"LSG got stuck. After losing the toss, they didn't score much runs and disappointed themselves. Nicholas Pooran played brilliant but he was trapped by Yuzvendra Chahal. So when Pooran got out, LSG's back was pretty much broken. Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad provided some fireworks towards the end got them to a total, which was worth fighting for but very tough to defend given just how strong Punjab's batting is," added Harbhajan.