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Ambati Rayudu has asked LSG captain Rishabh Pant to avoid giving ‘excuses’ and take control of the team’s IPL 2025 season.
Rishabh Pant had a day to forget in Lucknow. (Sportzpics Photo)
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has sternly asked Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant to cut down on ‘excuses’ and take ‘control’ of the decisions at the franchise to help their IPL 2025 campaign. Rayudu said Pant needs to bat up the order, instead of number seven like he did against Delhi Capitals on Tuesday.
Pant, who has usually batted in the top or middle-order for LSG, sent Ayush Badoni, David Miller and Abdul Samad ahead of him against his old franchise, and came to face only the last two balls of the innings. His knock ended in a two-ball duck, keeping his runs tally at a poor 106 after eight innings. The left-hander was heavily trolled for the tactic, which only got worse after LSG stumbled to an eight-wicket defeat.
“Pant really needs to take control of the decisions that are being made at LSG,” Rayudu said on Star Sports after the match. “He needs to come up the order. He cannot give any more excuses. He is the captain and it is a captain’s sport. We all acknowledge that. Going forward, LSG need to make a few changes: maybe get Mayank Yadav in. Also Pant has to bat slightly higher. You are visibly quite tensed about the whole situation.”
Although LSG have been far from the worst team this season — they are still fifth and only three wins away from having a great chance at qualifying — Pant’s price tag and team owner Sanjiv Goenka’s history with previous captain KL Rahul has kept a lot of limelight at the off-field issues.
Even against DC, Pant was seen having an animated chat with team mentor Zaheer Khan on the sidelines before he came to bat. It went viral on social media.
“I feel Pant really needs to take the onus on himself,” Rayudu said about the clip. “He really needs to take the decisions on his own. Sometimes these visuals are not really good if you are a good team. Because you want everything to be closed doors. You want everything to be said indoors. And also you don’t want any dirty laundry to be washed outside,” he added.
LSG next face Mumbai Indians away at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (December 27).
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