Cricketer-turned-expert Cheteshwar Pujara said that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant is not the designated finisher of the side. Strangely, the southpaw batted at number 7 against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday, April 22, at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Pant came to bat in the last over with only two balls left. However, the wicketkeeper batter's bad fate continued as he was out for a duck.
Pujara stated that Pant is not suited to bat in the finishing stages of the innings, as he is more suited to play in the middle overs. It is to be noted that for DC, Pant always used to bat at number four and five. The southpaw has majorly thrived in that role and has single-handedly won them games.
“I genuinely don't know what the thought process was. But there's no doubt - he should be batting higher up the order. He's trying to do what MS Dhoni does, but he's nowhere near that level. I still feel he's someone who should be batting during the middle overs between the 6th and 15th. He's not a finisher, and he shouldn't be doing the job of one,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo.
Inserted to bat first by DC, LSG got off to a good start as openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh put on 86 runs for the first wicket. However, DC fought back in the middle overs as they managed to chip in with regular wickets. After the fall of wickets of Marsh, Markram, and Pooran, LSG promoted Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, and David Miller up the order.
Nick Knight unimpressed by Rishabh Pant coming in at number 7
Nick Knight was unimpressed by the fact that a captain of the side was demoting himself. Knight felt Rishabh Pant should be leading from the front and trying to impact the game in a positive manner.
"I'm saying this because it's just so bizarre. The way I see it, I don't really have a problem with Badoni batting at 4 or 5. I can see some rationale there—he’s playing well, and honestly, I think he’s more likely to score runs than Pant right now. You could probably say the same about someone like David Miller,” Knight said.
“So, when you look at it from a decision-making point of view, there’s some logic. But where I really don't like it is how it looks. Pant is your captain, and seeing your captain sliding down the order, taking a step back when the team really needs him to step up—it just doesn’t sit right. He's the one who stands in front of the team, the one leading them out there. And when your leader is going the other way, it doesn’t send a great message. That, more than anything, is my issue,” Knight added.
LSG were handed an eight-wicket thrashing by DC, as they were consigned to their fourth loss in the IPL 2025 season.
