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'He Was Doing What Dhoni Used To Do': Rayudu Defends Pant After LSG's Loss vs DC

Jatin

Rishabh Pant's captaincy sparked criticism [Source: AP Photos]Rishabh Pant's captaincy sparked criticism [Source: AP Photos]

The IPL 2025 has kicked off with fireworks and Match 4 was an edge-of-the-seat thriller that went right down to the wire. At one point, Lucknow Super Giants looked in cruise control, but somehow, Delhi Capitals pulled off a Houdini act, winning by just 1 wicket in a final-over heart-stopper at Visakhapatnam.

While DC were celebrating their great escape, all eyes turned to Rishabh Pant, not for his batting but for his captaincy decisions that raised quite a few eyebrows.

Rishabh Pant’s Decisions In DC vs LSG Match Drew Criticism Galore

Pant’s captaincy in the IPL has always been a mixed bag. Some days he looks sharp, other days, not so much. Against DC, it was the latter. From the outside, it looked like LSG were calling the shots for most of the game. But then things got messy.

It all started brilliantly as Shardul Thakur struck twice in the very first over, removing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel for ducks. DC were reeling at 2/2. Perfect start, right?

But instead of doubling down on Shardul, Pant tossed the ball to debutant Digvesh Rathi for the third over. And bam, two boundaries later, the pressure was off and DC were breathing again.

Even more confusing was the fact that Shardul bowled just one more over (the 5th) and was never brought back. With Ashutosh Sharma going full beast mode at the death, LSG could’ve used Thakur’s cutters and smarts. Instead, they didn’t.

To top it off, with just 6 needed off the final over, Pant handed the ball to spinner Shahbaz Ahmed instead of the experienced Thakur. That move didn’t sit well with fans or pundits, and social media lit up with criticism.

Rayudu Steps In With A Dhoni Reference

But amidst the heat, Ambati Rayudu came to Pant’s defence, throwing some perspective into the mix. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Rayudu said:

“Maybe he was doing what MS Dhoni used to do – wickets like that, bowling spinners at the end. I don’t think it’s his captaincy but it was the bowling execution that let him down.”

Now that’s a big statement: comparing Pant to Dhoni when it comes to trusting spinners in crunch moments. Rayudu's point was that the plan might’ve been sound, but the execution simply didn’t stick the landing.

It is worth mentioning that this isn’t new territory for Pant. He has had moments in the past where his tactics have been under the scanner. But what’s also true is that he often backs his gut. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. Against DC, it didn’t.

Had Shahbaz Ahmed pulled off a dot or a wicket, Pant would've been hailed as a master tactician. That’s just how this game works. It’s early days in the tournament, and while LSG will be hurting from the missed opportunity, there’s still time to bounce back. As for Pant, criticism will come and go, but he’s got the backing of voices like Rayudu and that counts for something.