1983 World Cup winner attacks 'Brainless' Justin Langer, Zaheer Khan for mishandling Rishabh Pant
Published - 01 May 2025, 04:44 PM | Updated - 01 May 2025, 06:03 PM
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Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant came to bat at number 7 with only two balls remaining in their recent IPL 2025 clash against the Delhi Capitals, leaving fans and experts baffled. Rishabh Pant was dismissed without scoring a run off the last ball of the innings, raising questions on his batting order.
But what raised more eyebrows was an intense exchange between Pant and Lucknow Super Giants mentor Zaheer Khan in the dugout just before his turn to bat in the 19th over against Delhi Capitals. LSG had managed only 159/6, and DC chased it down inside 18 overs to win the game by 8 wickets.
Kris Srikkanth slams LSG for mishandling Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025
Reacting to Pant’s batting position in LSG’s playing XI that has not been consistent in the ongoing IPL 2025, former India captain Kris Srikkanth has lashed out at the handling of the Indian wicketkeeper-batter by the Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan.
The former Indian chief selector accused Zaheer and Langer of failing to utilize Pant’s potential and throwing his leadership and batting into disarray, especially considering the hefty INR 27 crore price tag he has. The LSG captain has managed only 110 runs in 10 matches so far this season.
Srikanth said on his YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka, “I didn’t understand. Why did he come to bat for just two balls? What’s Langer trying to do? What’s the team management trying to do? What is Zaheer Khan trying to do?”
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'Don’t they have brains?'
When asked who made the call by his son Anirush, who was hosting the show, Srikkanth said that Pant, being the captain, should not need anyone's permission to bat. He also criticized Langer, asking if he was using his brain in such crucial decisions.
The 1983 World Cup winner said, “I don’t know. Some people say Rishabh Pant wanted to go in to bat, but they didn’t allow him. But he is the captain. Why should he have anybody’s permission to go inside? At the end of the day, it’s a team management decision.
Everybody’s sitting there. Langer is also there. Doesn’t he have brains? These three people: Langer, Zaheer, and Pant. Don’t they have brains?”
Anil Kumble questions Rishabh Pant's batting position, hints nothing well within the LSG camp
Meanwhile, former India captain Anil Kumble also raised questions about Rishabh Pant batting so low in the order against the DC. Kumble pointed out that Pant looked frustrated and wondered whether the decision was his or made by coach Justin Langer or mentor Zaheer Khan.
Anil Kumble said on JioCinema: “It’s alright if you wanted to bat more freely under less pressure by coming in late, but this was way too late. The kind of frustration Rishabh is showing is evidence that he was wronged. He probably wanted to bat higher. Was it his decision? Or was it coach Justin Langer’s, or maybe mentor Zaheer Khan’s? Whose decision was it? Because he looked very frustrated.”
Notably, the sixth-place LSG will take on Punjab Kings on Sunday, May 4, at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala, in their next IPL 2025 clash.
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