/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/2025/01/20/UbmUWs2rBi6vou8x4qjM.png)
Sanjiv Goenka Photograph: (X)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka came live on Star Sports along with the new addition of the squad, Rishabh Pant to have a 'Special Chat' and announce the captain of the team ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. As soon as the conversation started, Goenka praised Pant for being a terrific player and assured the viewers that he saw him as a great leader. With that, he confirmed that the left-handed batter will be the captain of LSG in the 18th season of the tournament.
"People now say 'Mahi, Rohit' in IPL's most successful captains list. Mark my words, after 10-12 years it'll be 'Mahi, Rohit and Rishabh Pant. Rishabh Pant isn’t just going to be the best player of LSG but of IPL itself. Never seen someone with so much passion. He’s the boy next door, his connection with the players, teams and thought process is different. Conventional thought processes lack uniqueness. I see him as a leader. He will probably be the best captain IPL has seen," said Sanjiv Goenka during a 'Special Chat.'
The management of LSG went after Pant in the auction and grabbed him for a whopping amount of INR 27 crores. Pant has been phenomenal in the tournament but still has time to establish himself as a leader. Hence, this might be an opportunity for him to do so.
Then I started getting tensed: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant spoke about the nervousness he had during the IPL auction, which happened back in November 2924. It was an overwhelming experience for the player as he waited for his name to come up in the auction. He received a lot of praise from the owner which might create pressure on him during the league.
"I kept waiting for my name (to come up for auction). Then I started getting tense. I was watching with Rohit Sharma but then I stopped. I had mentally made up my mind to not watch after the bid crossed Rs 15 crore. This was my first experience since I started playing IPL. The first time it happened, I was playing U-19 cricket. I was excited, nervous," said Rishabh Pant.