Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant is going through a forgettable season in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). With just 151 runs at a strike rate of 107.09 from 13 games, it marks Pant’s worst performance in his IPL career. However, amid the run drought, LSG head coach Justin Langer has stood in support of the wicketkeeper-batter, lauding his character and leadership within the team.
The former Australian Test opener recalled the horrific car accident the Delhi cricketer encountered in December 2023 and reminded everyone how he made a stunning comeback to the field, exhibiting absolute grit and determination.
“You always judge a person’s character by how they go through tough times. And Rishabh’s stayed consistent the whole way through. I really respect that. We all know what he’s been through over the last couple of years, but he keeps stepping up, he keeps performing, he wants to get out in the middle, and he wants to keep fighting hard for the boys,” Langer said during the live broadcast after Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) beat Gujarat Titans (GT) by 33 runs on Thursday, May 23.
“So from that point of view, he’s done a really good job. You would not know, and that’s a sign of a really strong person,” he added.
It’d be nice to finish off strongly: Langer
While Lucknow Super Giants could not make it to the playoffs, Justin Langer said that they have a very good core. Furthermore, he also claimed that LSG is a closely-knit team. Lastly, Langer revealed that the immediate goal was to finish the IPL 2025 season on a strong note.
“I mean, there’s always something to play for. There are guys who haven’t had great seasons who want to showcase their talents, and as a team, we respect that we haven’t been at our best the last few games. There’s no excuse for that, but we want to show that we’ve got a very good core. We’ve got a closely-knit team. There’s no doubt about that. So it’d be nice to finish off strongly,” Langer said.
Notably, LSG will finish their campaign on Tuesday, May 27, when they take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
