Lucknow Super Giants wrapped up their IPL 2025 journey with a high-scoring defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Batting first, LSG put up a strong total of 228 for 3, powered by captain Rishabh Pant’s magnificent unbeaten century.
However, the impressive total wasn’t enough, as Bengaluru chased it down with remarkable ease. Jitesh Sharma, leading RCB in place of the regular captain, played a stunning knock that guided his side to a six-wicket win and a spot in the playoffs.
This loss marked LSG’s eighth defeat of the season, landing them in the seventh place on the points table. Alongside the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs, the team also faced disciplinary action.
Rishabh Pant was fined Rs 30 lakh for a slow over-rate, as this was the team’s third offence under the IPL’s Code of Conduct for minimum over-rate violations. The remaining players in the squad, including the Impact Player, were fined either Rs 12 lakh or 50% of their match fees, depending on which amount was lower.
Rishabh Pant’s personal performance ended on a high with 269 runs from 13 innings, although the majority (181 runs) came from just two games. The wicketkeeper-batter was signed for a massive Rs 27 crore at the previous year’s mega auction but the overall output did not match the hefty price tag. Reflecting on the season, Rishabh Pant acknowledged the team’s inconsistency and injury troubles, admitting that while individual brilliance showed up in patches, full 40-over good performances were rare.
Despite the underwhelming campaign, Rishabh Pant will soon return to international cricket. He’s set to be vice-captain of the Indian Test squad which begins its tour of England on June 20 under the leadership of Shubman Gill.
