Fans are in doubt about Rishabh Pant's performance in IPL

BY A STAFF REPORTER: Just 12 days left before the curtain rises on the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and popular team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will face each other in the first match of this season. However, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is at the center of discussion even before the start of the IPL.

Rishabh Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore in this year's auction. He is scheduled to play his first match against Delhi Capitals on March 24. However, several questions have been raised in the cricket community about Pant's recent form and preparation for his return to the field.

Although he was recently with the Indian team, Pant did not get a chance to play a single match. Although he was in the squad for the Champions Trophy, he had to spend the entire season sitting in the dugout. Earlier, he was also part of the team in the three-match ODI series against England, but did not get a place in the playing eleven in any of the matches.

Pant's recent performances have already raised concerns among fans. He could not show a great performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. According to many cricket experts, Rs 27 crore is a bit too much for him in the IPL.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow franchise has also given him the captaincy responsibility this time, which could be an additional challenge for him. Fans will be keeping an eye on how the lack of opportunity to play matches in the national team for a long time and being out of form will affect his IPL performance.

Many fans feel that Pant could become a 'headache' for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL due to his lack of match fitness. However, it remains to be seen how much he can match himself on a stage like the IPL.