Zaheer Khan opens up on Rishabh Pant’s captaincy in IPL 2025

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor and former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan has opened up on the franchise’s captain, Rishabh Pant, in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Notably, Pant has been suffering from poor form with the willow of late.

When asked if Pant is feeling the pressure of his big paycheque of INR 27 Crore, Zaheer Khan stated that he has been fantastic as a leader and dismissed any sort of pressure on the LSG skipper.

Importantly, Pant could score only 110 runs in 10 innings this season. His highest score of 63 this season came against the Chennai Super Kings. Unfortunately, LSG went on to lose that particular contest.

“I wouldn't relate it to anything like that. He is a leader and he has been fantastic as a leader, that's something which I can vouch for.  The kind of efforts he has been taking to make sure that each and every individual in that group is comfortable, is heard (out) and the planning to everything which goes around in IPL has been spot on,” Zaheer Khan told after LSG suffered a loss to MI on Sunday, April 27.

Moreover, Zaheer backed Pant to come out all guns blazing with the willow shortly. He added that Pant is an optimistic personality and he is confident of taking the team forward this season.

“As a leader, he is ticking all the boxes. As a batter, the middle-order is dependent on Rishabh and I am very confident that the impact which we want from him will come. It's just about something clicking,” Zaheer added.

“I wouldn't relate it to pressure. You have seen that he is the kind of personality… what happened in the last game is something which is gone by and what's going to happen, he is a very optimistic and a positive personality so from our side, it's just about continuing with that,” he stated.

After their defeat to the Mumbai Indians on Sunday, LSG are reeling down at the sixth rank with five wins and as many losses, picking up 10 points at an NRR of -0.325. They would need to win at least two out of the next four games to ensure their playoff spot.

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