Sanjiv Goenka announces Rishabh Pant’s retention despite LSG's IPL 2025 horror show

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner, Sanjiv Goenka, has all but confirmed that the team captain, Rishabh Pant, will be retained by the franchise despite the disastrous Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Sanjiv Goenka made the development public by sharing a post on his official X handle a few days ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction retention deadline.

Rishabh Pant looked miserable in IPL 2025

The 28-year-old generational player, Rishabh Pant, created history at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction after parting ways with the Delhi Capitals (DC).

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He was in high demand at the auction, and after a bidding war with several teams, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired his services for a whopping INR 27 crore.

This made him the most expensive player in the history of the league and put tremendous pressure on him to justify his price tag in the season.

However, Pant failed to justify the big bucks spent on him by the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise. He looked miserable with the bat in the season and his captaincy decisions on the field were also quite poor.

Overall, in 14 matches, the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16. 118* of those runs came in the last league stage match of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as he played a sensational knock in the losing cause.

Great discussion with Rishabh, Justin Langer, and Bharat Arun as we plan for the season ahead - Sanjiv Goenka

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) finished at the seventh spot on the points table with 6 wins and 12 points and a Net Run Rate of -0.376.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, November 13, Sanjiv Goenka took to X to share a picture with LSG Global Director of Cricket Tom Moody, head coach Justin Langer, bowling coach Bharat Arun, captain Rishabh Pant, and other LSG officials.

The presence of Rishabh Pant in the meeting all but confirms that LSG are in no mood to part ways with the wicketkeeper-batsman.

"IPL retention talks for @LucknowIPL are underway. Delighted to have @TomMoodyCricket on board, bringing immense experience and strategic insight. Great discussion with @RishabhPant17, Justin Langer, and Bharat Arun as we plan for the season ahead. #LSG," the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) tweeted on X.

IPL retention talks for @LucknowIPL are underway.

Delighted to have @TomMoodyCricket on board, bringing immense experience and strategic insight. Great discussion with @RishabhPant17, Justin Langer, and Bharat Arun as we plan for the season ahead.#LSG pic.twitter.com/8R3GmQVHsy

— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) November 13, 2025

Heinrich Khaasen on LSG's radar?

Recently, the former India opener Aakash Chopra speculated that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) can target Heinrich Klaasen at the auction if Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) release him.

"If Klaasen comes in the auction, LSG can look at him because he's in their Durban team as well. Maybe they can leave Will O'Rourke and look at some other bowler. I think LSG will walk into the auction with a lot of money," he said. (via 2 Sloggers YouTube channel).

"SRH will not release Klaasen. You do not spend 23 crores for just one year. They will not release Ishan Kishan as well. Cameron Green will be the most expensive player. But to get him I don't think they will release Klaasen. Maybe they will leave Shami. If Klaasen comes to the auction, he will change the dynamics a lot."

Also Read: Hardik Pandya set to return to domestic cricket ahead of South Africa series