Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in IPL auction history, has been appointed captain of the Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025, as announced on Monday (January 20). Pant made history during the mega auction in November last year, when LSG co-owner Sanjiv Goenka secured his services for a record Rs 27 crore.
“I think Rishabh Pant is going to finish as one of the best IPL captains ever. In 10-12 years time, you would hear his name associated with MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma,” Goenka said.
Despite a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign with the Delhi Capitals, where they finished sixth, the Lucknow Super Giants, who placed just below in seventh, are placing their faith in the 27-year-old to lead them to a successful season.
Pant will become the fourth player to lead the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. Prior to him, KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran had all captained the team in the world’s richest franchise cricket league. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, LSG retained five players: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and Mohsin Khan.
Rishabh Pant has been a part of Delhi Capitals since 2016. The wicketkeeper-batter missed IPL 2023 due to injuries sustained in a horrific car accident on December 30, 2022.
IPL 2025 will begin on March 23, with the opening match scheduled at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where the Kolkata Knight Riders will defend their title.