Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the new captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka made this announcement on Monday. Pant, who is the most expensive player in IPL history, was bought by Lucknow for Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. After becoming the captain, Pant made fun of Punjab Kings (PBKS) and said, “I was worried that Punjab might buy the team.” However, the Punjab franchise did not mind Pant's joke and congratulated him wholeheartedly.
Punjab Kings shared the picture of Pant and Shreyas Iyer on social media platform 'X' and wrote, “Fearless youth, ready to roar. Rishabh, congratulations on becoming the captain of Lucknow Super Giants. All the best to you.” Pant said on Star Sports, “I had only one tension inside, that was Punjab Kings. His budget was quite good, his purse was more than Rs 110 crore. But when Shreyas Iyer moved to PBKS, I felt I can go to LSG now.” After this Pant looked at the LSG owner smiling.
After Pant was released by Delhi Capitals (DC), there was speculation that Pant could be bought by Chennai Super Kings or Punjab Kings. The possibility of Pant going to Chennai was being expressed because he has a good relationship with MS Dhoni, while the discussion of going to Punjab got strength because of Ricky Ponting, who has been the coach of DC for a long time. Punjab recently bought Shreyas Iyer for Rs 26.75 crore and appointed him as their new captain.
This is the second time that Pant will captain a team in the IPL. Before this, he has been the captain of Delhi Capitals in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 seasons. Pant replaced KL Rahul as captain in LSG, who was bought by DC for Rs 14 crore in the auction. After becoming the captain, Pant said, “I especially want to thank Sanjiv Goenka sir and the entire management. I will give my 200 percent and try my best to live up to the trust shown in me. This is a new beginning and hopefully we will do well in the new season.”
He further said, “I am very happy with my new team. There is a good balance of young and senior players in our team. Now we have to think about how to take this franchise to new heights. It's a new beginning, a new franchise. However, there will not be much change in my captaincy and style of playing cricket, rather some new things will be added to it. We will move ahead according to the team's strategy.”
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