Rishabh Pant, once hailed as the future of Indian cricket across formats, is enduring a rough patch in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Turning out for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Pant’s performances have been underwhelming, leaving fans and experts questioning the root of his struggles. Amid this downturn, veteran Indian Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has offered a thoughtful explanation for Pant’s lack of success in the shortest format of the game, especially when compared to his heroics in Test cricket.
Cheteshwar Pujara explains Rishabh Pant’s predicament in T20s
Pujara, known for his calm demeanour and classical batting approach, drew a sharp contrast between Pant’s batting style in Test cricket and the challenges he faces in T20s. Speaking candidly about the southpaw’s ongoing form slump, Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo, “Talking about his Test cricket, he can have extra bit of time when he comes into bat. He knows that bowlers are trying to get his wicket. The field is in, there are lot of players in the slips so he has enough gaps when he is batting in the Test format.”
Pujara pointed out that in Tests, even with spread fields, Pant has more room to maneuver and build an innings. That luxury, however, disappears in T20s.
“When he comes to bat at number 4-5 or later on, the ball is a little softer. The opposition has a proper field set for him. So it is very very difficult to compare his Test batting with batting in T20 format,” he added.
He also critiqued Pant’s approach to leadership, concluding, “Talking about his captainship, I think he is someone I would say a little casual in terms of assessing the players.” This observation hints that Pant’s mental approach in T20s—both as a batter and as a leader—may be impacting his effectiveness.
Pant’s dismal run with LSG in IPL 2025
Pant’s statistics in IPL 2025 make for grim reading. In 9 matches, he has batted in 8 innings and managed to score just 106 runs at an average of 13.25 and a strike rate of 96.36. A solitary knock of 63 against Chennai Super Kings remains the only spark in an otherwise dark campaign. That innings aside, Pant has struggled to get going, registering scores of 0, 3, 21, 2, 2, 15, and another duck in the rest of his appearances.
With just one notable innings to his name and multiple failures, questions are being raised about Pant’s adaptability and form in the T20 arena. While his gloves have still contributed with a few catches and stumpings, it’s his primary role with the bat that’s letting the team down.
Also WATCH: Rishabh Pant engages in an animated chat with mentor Zaheer Khan during LSG vs DC clash of IPL 2025
