Explained: Why Rishabh Pant's LSG Has Failed As A Team In IPL 2025

Jatin

LSG have had a dismal start to their IPL 2025 campaign [Source: @iplt20.com]LSG have had a dismal start to their IPL 2025 campaign [Source: @iplt20.com]

Three games in and Lucknow Super Giants already look like a car running on fumes. Under Rishabh Pant’s captaincy, they have played three matches, won just one and that too, thanks to a Nicholas Pooran special.

The rest? A complete no-show. The team has looked more like eleven individuals than a unit with a common goal. With one win and two losses in the bag, LSG’s IPL 2025 campaign has started on an abysmal note.

Let’s break down three big reasons why Lucknow Super Giants has failed so far.

1. Over-reliance on Pooran and Marsh

Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh are carrying this batting lineup on their shoulders. If they don’t fire, the rest just crumble like a house of cards. The others? They are just making up the numbers at this point.

Here’s a look at how LSG batters have fared so far:

Player
Matches
Runs
Average
Strike-Rate
50s
4/6s
Nicholas Pooran318963.00219.76
217/15
Mitchell Marsh312441.33182.35213/8
Ayush Badoni35117.00115.9002/3
Aiden Markram34414.66125.7105/2
Rishabh Pant3175.6665.3800/1

Pooran’s strike rate is off the charts, Marsh has chipped in nicely too. But the rest of the batting lineup looks like they are stuck in quicksand.

David Miller’s numbers look decent only because he hasn’t had to face too many balls. Badoni, Samad, and Markram haven’t left a mark. And Pant? Let’s just say, he is nowhere near his best.

This kind of imbalance means the opposition knows: get Pooran and Marsh early and the rest will fold like a cheap tent.

2. Injury Stricken Bowling Unit

You can’t expect to win matches in T20s without a solid bowling attack. And LSG’s bowling lineup has been hit hard by injuries. First Mohsin Khan was ruled out and replaced by Shardul Thakur.

Then Mayank Yadav, who can bowl fire, hasn’t been cleared to play yet. Avesh Khan is back, but he is still rusty and bowling like someone coming back from a long layoff.

Add to that Ravi Bishnoi leaking runs left, right and centre and you’ve got yourself a bowling unit that’s all bark and no bite.

When your bowling spearheads are on the bench and your frontline spinner is misfiring, there is no stopping the bleeding. It is like plugging a leaky pipe with chewing gum, it just doesn’t work.

3. Rishabh Pant’s price tag and captaincy burden

INR 27 Crore. That’s how much LSG splashed on Rishabh Pant in the auction. That is not just a price tag, that is a mountain of expectations. And so far, Pant’s batting has looked like a pale shadow of his old self. He is second-guessing everything, and it shows.

His strike rate is a shocking 65.38. His average? Just 5.66. That’s not what you expect from a star who’s leading the side. Taking over a new franchise as captain is no walk in the park. 

And with all eyes on him, it feels like Pant’s trying to do too much too soon. Be it team combinations, bowling changes or setting fields, he has got too much on his plate. And that is clearly affecting his batting rhythm.

Conclusion

LSG still has time to turn things around. But the alarm bells are ringing. If they want to get back in the mix, they need to stop leaning on Marsh and Pooran like a crutch, get their bowling sorted and let Pant breathe a little.

It is high time this Super Giant of a team starts playing like one. Otherwise, come the business end of the league, they might find themselves sitting in the dugout while others chase the trophy.