After a lackluster season marked by inconsistency and mounting scrutiny, Rishabh Pant finally found his form — and in emphatic style — during the final league match of the 2025 Indian Premier League. Playing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who had signed him for a record INR 27 crore, Pant unleashed a scintillating unbeaten century that electrified the home crowd at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Pant, whose struggles had included just one half-century and multiple shifts in the batting lineup, turned the tide with a commanding 118* off 61 deliveries. His knock powered LSG to a formidable 227/3 in 20 overs, setting the highest total ever recorded at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The feat surpassed the previous highest chase at the venue, which stood at 206 — a mark RCB would now aim to better in their run chase.
“Pant’s performance today was just phenomenal,” said LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who had backed the star wicketkeeper-batter through a turbulent campaign. “He showed why we believed in him.”
Despite Pant’s heroics, the night ultimately belonged to Jitesh Sharma. The RCB batter delivered a counter-punch of his own, scoring an unbeaten 85 that anchored a thrilling six-wicket win for his team. The result not only spoiled LSG’s celebration but also ensured RCB’s progression to Qualifier 1 in the IPL playoffs.
