It took time, but Rishabh Pant finally exploded with the bat. After a frustrating IPL 2025 campaign, the LSG skipper produced a breathtaking century in the team's last league game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
With the England Test series just around the corner, this innings couldn’t have come at a better moment. Pant, who had drawn plenty of criticism for his form throughout the tournament, showed the cricket world he still has the fire.
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Why was Rishabh Pant under pressure during IPL 2025?
Throughout the season, Pant found himself surrounded by noise. Ever since he was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for a massive ₹27 crore at the auction, expectations were sky-high.
But until their final game, the numbers didn’t do him any favours as he could only manage just 151 runs across 13 matches.
Fans and experts alike questioned his place and price, especially as LSG failed to make the playoffs. The pressure was mounting, and his lean patch became a talking point. But all it took was one evening in Lucknow to flip the narrative.
What made Rishabh Pant's century against RCB so special?
Pant arrived at No.3 and looked in control from ball one. He ended up smashing 118 off just 61 deliveries with 10 fours and 6 sixes. This was his second century in IPL history and his first since 2018
The way he timed the innings, shifted gears and controlled the tempo showed a batter back at his confident best.
How does Rishabh Pant's knock impact the England Test series?
India's five-match Test series against England begins on June 20 at Headingley. The series will kick off the new World Test Championship cycle and mark a fresh leadership chapter with Shubman Gill as captain and Pant as vice-captain.
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With India set to rely on a young and slightly inexperienced batting unit, Pant's return to form is a massive boost.
Leading into a long English summer, a confident Pant can offer stability in the middle order and his ability to counter-attack could prove vital in swinging conditions.