Rishabh Pant’s Tough IPL 2025 Draws Praise from Coach Justin Langer: ‘A Sign of Real Strength’

Justin Langer Lauds Rishabh Pant’s Leadership Despite Tough IPL 2025 Campaign

Rishabh Pant’s Struggles Mirror LSG’s Disappointing Season, Says Coach Justin Langer

It’s been a season to forget for Lucknow Super Giants, and no one embodies that struggle more than their captain, Rishabh Pant. With LSG officially out of playoff contention—sitting on 12 points from 13 matches—Pant’s underwhelming return of 151 runs at a strike rate of just 107.09 has been emblematic of the team’s overall decline.

Rishabh Pant, who made a remarkable comeback this season after surviving a life-threatening car crash just over a year ago, has endured his toughest IPL campaign yet. Despite his poor form, head coach Justin Langer came to his skipper’s defence during LSG’s clash against Gujarat Titans, praising Pant’s resilience and commitment.

“You always judge a person’s character by how they go through tough times. And Rishabh Pant stayed consistent the whole way through. I really respect that,” Langer said. “We all know what he’s been through over the last couple of years, but he keeps stepping up, keeps performing, and wants to fight hard for the boys.”

While Pant’s batting has been far from his best, Langer highlighted the leadership and strength he has continued to show in adversity. “So from that point of view, he’s done a really good job. You would not know, and that’s a sign of a really strong person,” he added.

LSG’s dominant win

LSG’s recent demolition of Gujarat Titans—highlighted by explosive knocks from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran—was a rare glimpse of the team’s true potential. Their commanding 235-run total in Ahmedabad was defended comfortably, serving as a reminder of the firepower they possess. However, such dominant performances have been few and far between in a campaign marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities.

With just one match remaining—against a playoff-bound Royal Challengers Bengaluru—head coach Justin Langer emphasized the importance of finishing on a high note, driven by pride and professionalism.

“There’s always something to play for,” Langer said. “There are guys who haven’t had great seasons who want to showcase their talents. And as a team, we know we haven’t been at our best the last few games. There’s no excuse for that, but we want to prove that we have a strong core and a closely-knit unit.”

He added, “It’d be nice to finish off strongly.”

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