IPL 2025: Shahbaz Ahmed Confident in Relaxed Pant Ahead of KKR Clash

Kolkata, April 7 (NationPress) Rishabh Pant might be facing a challenging time in IPL 2025 with his batting form, but his Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) teammate Shahbaz Ahmed is confident that the “chilled and relaxed” captain will soon make a significant impact. Despite being the most expensive player in IPL history at ₹27 crore, Pant has only scored 19 runs in four innings this season, resulting in a disappointing average of 4.75 and a strike-rate below 60.

“His mood remains unchanged. He is as relaxed as ever,” Shahbaz stated ahead of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “He is putting in tremendous effort, and we believe that when the critical moments arise, Rishabh Pant will deliver runs and secure victories for us,” Ahmed mentioned during a press briefing.

Attention will also be focused on the Eden Gardens pitch, which has faced criticism for not supporting spin during KKR’s opener. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and coach Chandrakant Pandit had previously expressed their dissatisfaction, but Shahbaz, a native of Bengal, is optimistic that there will be some assistance for spin bowlers.

“This surface appears slower. While it may not turn much, the ball could stop slightly, making it favorable for bowlers, especially spinners,” he noted. “In comparison to Lucknow, this ground is smaller, so runs are attainable as well.”

He also emphasized that the pitch preparation likely catered to KKR’s spin-dominant lineup—including Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. “For the past two to three years, tracks of this nature have been created here because Narine and Varun are their primary bowlers,” Shahbaz added.

LSG has faced numerous injury challenges, particularly in their fast bowling lineup. However, Shahbaz shared some positive updates on that front.

“Concerns arose when four of our bowlers were unavailable. Yet, newcomers like Prince Yadav and the seasoned Shardul Thakur have risen to the occasion. Akash Deep and Avesh Khan have recovered well, and Mayank Yadav is on the path to healing. We hope he will be back soon,” he reported.

Mayank’s speed and intensity had garnered attention earlier in the tournament before he was sidelined, and his return would be a significant advantage for LSG’s bowling attack.

Emerging LSG fast bowler Digvijay Rathi has quickly made a name for himself this season, not only for his impressive spell of 1/21 against Mumbai Indians but also for his exuberant celebrations. However, his viral 'notebook signing' gesture has drawn the ire of match officials, leading to disciplinary issues.

Having already incurred fines twice—once for an incident involving PBKS batter Priyansh Arya and again after the MI match—Rathi currently holds three demerit points and is just one away from a match suspension.

“Priyansh Arya is a very close friend of his. On television, it might appear differently, but it was friendly in nature,” Shahbaz clarified. “I hope he avoids repeating it. However, it’s his first season—these things are part of the game.”