IPL 2025: Not MS Dhoni! Rishabh Pant aims to inspire LSG with Rohit Sharma’s leadership style
Published - 20 Jan 2025, 06:45 PM | Updated - 20 Jan 2025, 06:48 PM
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Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named as the new captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the next edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday (January 20). As he is set to embark on a fresh journey in the IPL, Pant reflected on the learning from the captains.
Rishabh Pant has had the honor to play under Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for India. While Kohli is one of the best captains India has ever seen across the formats, especially Test cricket, Rohit has his own legacy of being one of the best white-ball captains going around the world.
Rishabh Pant emphasizes player trust and fighting spirit after becoming Lucknow Super Giants captain
Apart from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper learned a lot of things from one of the greatest captains of all time, MS Dhoni. Rishabh Pant shares a great bond with the legendary wicketkeeper, and even MS Dhoni helped the youngster with his inputs over the years.
As the left-handed batter is now all set to lead a new team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the IPL 2025, it was not Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, but Rohit Sharma whose one special quality he wants to incorporate into his own leadership style.
He credited Rohit for teaching him how to truly care for his players, and that is by instilling confidence and trust, as when a captain shows belief and trust in their team, players can deliver extraordinary performances that go beyond expectations.
Want to learn from Rohit Sharma how to take care of a player: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was quoted by Revsportz: “Yes, I have learned from a lot of captains, a lot of my seniors, because I feel you just don't have to only learn from your captain. But it's difficult to be very specific. Rohit Bhai is one. Like with Rohit Bhai, you have learned how to care for a player because I feel the same as a captain when I captain a side.”
The newly appointed LSG skipper emphasized that leadership is about learning from everyone around you, not just one captain. Rishabh Pant also highlighted the importance of trusting and supporting players to bring out the best in them, and that’s how he wants to shape his captaincy.
The Indian wicketkeeper further noted, “I feel if you give confidence and trust to a player, he will do things that you can't even imagine for you and for the team. And that's the kind of ideology we like to have: we'll back the players, we'll try to give them trust, and we'll have clear communication about what kind of role we want for them. And that's the idea.”
Rishabh Pant aims to build a winning culture at Lucknow Super Giants
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant said that he wants to instill a "never die" attitude in the Lucknow Super Giants, as he believes that the fighting spirit matters more than the performance. The LSG skipper wants to create the kind of character and team culture where players give an extra 20-30%, even when their body feels drained in the upcoming IPL 2025.
Rishabh Pant further explained. “One thing is that never-die attitude, like you fight till the last ball. And that is something I always emphasize: performance will come and go. But are you fighting enough? Are you giving your 100% when you are on the field? And that is something you can control as an individual.
Because, see, everyone gets tired. But eventually, how far are you willing to take it? Are you willing to give that extra 20-30% for the team, even though your body is not allowing? That's the kind of character we want in the team. And that's the kind of culture we're looking to build forward.”
🚨Rishabh Pant PC
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) January 20, 2025
"With Rohit Bhai, I have learned how to care for every player," says Rishabh Pant on the captaincy lessons he received from Rohit Sharma.@LucknowIPL @RishabhPant17 @ImRo45 #RishabhPant @debasissen @BoriaMajumdar pic.twitter.com/ACqNijOute
