Should Pant Seek Guidance from Dhoni to Overcome His Struggles?

Synopsis
In the midst of IPL 2025's challenges, Virender Sehwag advises Rishabh Pant to connect with his idol MS Dhoni. This insightful recommendation could potentially rejuvenate Pant's game and help him rediscover his form. As the LSG captain faces a tough season, support from legends may be the key to turning things around.
Key Takeaways
- Rishabh Pant struggles in IPL 2025 with only 128 runs.
- Sehwag recommends contacting MS Dhoni for guidance.
- Reflecting on past performances may restore confidence.
- Pant's average has fallen to 12.80 this season.
- Routine consistency is vital for performance.
New Delhi, May 5 (NationPress) Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has suggested that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant should reach out to his idol MS Dhoni to help him navigate through his challenging phase in IPL 2025.
Pant, the highest-priced player at the recent IPL auction with a staggering Rs 27 crore tag, has struggled this season, tallying only 128 runs in ten innings. His performance includes five scores below ten, one duck, and just a single half-century.
During Sunday’s match against Punjab Kings, he batted at No. 4, scoring only 18 runs off 17 balls while chasing a daunting target of 237. LSG lost the match by 37 runs, leaving them in seventh place on the points table with six losses in 11 games.
“He has a mobile phone; he just needs to call someone. If he’s feeling negative, there are numerous cricketers he can talk to. Since Dhoni is his role model, he should reach out to him. That could uplift him,” Sehwag stated on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag also recommended that Pant review footage of his past successful performances, referencing his own experience from the 2006/07 season as a lesson.
“Rishabh should revisit his old IPL clips where he scored runs; it could restore his confidence. Often, we forget our routines. This version of Rishabh is quite different from the one we saw before his injury. I remember in 2006/07, when I was out of form and dropped from the Indian squad, Rahul Dravid advised me to revisit my scoring routines. Disruptions in routine can significantly affect performance,” he added.
This IPL 2025 season marks Pant’s toughest campaign since debuting in 2016. In his inaugural season, he scored 198 runs over ten matches, averaging 24.75 with one half-century.
Currently, Pant has an average of 12.80 and his strike rate has dipped below 100 for the first time in his IPL career. Across 122 IPL matches, he has accumulated 3412 runs, including 19 half-centuries and one century, at an average of 33.13.