Is Zaheer Khan Satisfied with Pant's Strong Finish in IPL 2025?

New Delhi, May 28 (NationPress) Although Rishabh Pant, captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), scored an impressive 118 not out off 61 deliveries, his efforts were in vain. Zaheer Khan, the team's mentor, expressed his satisfaction with the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter concluding IPL 2025 on a strong note.

Pant's remarkable second IPL century wasn't enough to prevent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from successfully pursuing 228 runs, resulting in LSG's season ending in defeat. Across the tournament, Pant, who recently became the Test vice-captain, had a disappointing season, accumulating only 269 runs at a strike rate of 133.16.

“He has excelled in his leadership role, which has been a significant positive for us throughout the season. His batting form provided valuable lessons during this challenging season,” Zaheer stated.

“However, there is no doubt about his skill and talent. We are pleased that he concluded on a powerful note, highlighting his capabilities and the impact he can have on the game,” he added after the match.

LSG ranked seventh in the point standings with six victories from 14 matches, including just one win in their last six games. While Zaheer recognized some positives, he admitted they struggled to find the right bowling combinations due to injuries plaguing their bowlers.

“At the start of the IPL season, our primary goal is to aim for the playoffs and devise strategies to reach that goal. We faced significant challenges early on, including the loss of key bowlers to injuries,” he noted.

“We consciously chose not to dwell on these issues and instead focused on finding ways to win matches. This aligned approach allowed us to have a reasonably decent season,” he explained.

“However, we did fall short, and assembling a cohesive game strategy was a consistent challenge throughout the season. These experiences provided crucial learnings for us. There were notable positives, especially in batting stability, but we struggled to find effective bowling combinations, which was a recurring issue,” he elaborated.

Zaheer concluded by stating that LSG would address their weaknesses during the off-season and strive for a stronger performance in IPL 2026. “The season may be over, but our journey as the Lucknow Super Giants franchise is just beginning. We are optimistic about the future, with foundational elements in place. It's essential that we maintain our focus and work on our areas for improvement to return stronger next season,” he remarked.