Under pressure Rishabh Pant is supported by LSG mentor Zaheer Khan, who says, “He has been fantastic as a leader.”

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have been very concerned about Rishabh Pant’s form. During his team’s most recent match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on April 27, the LSG captain failed once more, being removed for just four runs. Additionally, the Lucknow team lost their fifth tournament game, which made it a little harder for them to qualify for the playoffs.

Pant has only amassed 110 runs at a pitiful average of 12.22 and strike rate of 98.21 in 10 games thus far. Notably, LSG purchased Pant at the November mega auction last year for an incredible INR 27 crore. Although some believe that the wicketkeeper-batter is under pressure due to the price tag, LSG coach Zaheer Khan has given an honest appraisal, saying that Pant has been a fantastic leader and would ultimately get back to his previous level.

It has nothing to do with that, in my opinion. The kind of efforts he has been making to ensure that every individual in that group is comfortable, is heard (out), and the planning for everything that goes around in the IPL has been spot on,” Zaheer told the media following the defeat against MI. “He is a leader, and he has been fantastic as a leader, that is something I can vouch for.

“I wouldn’t say that pressure is to blame. He is a really positive and upbeat person, so from our perspective, it’s just about carrying on with that,” the 2011 World Champion continued. “You have seen that he is the type of personality… what occurred in the last game is something that is gone and what is going to happen.”

We have determined that Rishabh Pant is the leader who will advance this group: Zaheer Khan

Zaheer went on to say that Pant would continue to be the team’s leader, ending rumours that he would be benched for the upcoming campaign. He has also shared his thoughts on how a cricket player’s form would evolve as the competition progresses.

“Winning the tournament is what you’re talking about when you talk about a team. There is no question about it—Rishabh has been identified as the man who will lead this team ahead. Some players will do well. Some players will be lacking in form; that’s just the nature of the game,” Zaheer stated.

“The two-time IPL finalist continued by saying, ‘We know that towards the back-end of the tournament now, the pressure is going to be high, so that’s the emphasis and it’s about finding that one innings, that is something for everyone.