January 20, 2025: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is set to witness a significant shift in leadership as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka officially announced Rishabh Pant as the captain of the Lucknow-based franchise on Monday. The announcement follows Pant’s record-breaking signing at the IPL 2025 mega auction, where LSG acquired the star wicketkeeper-batsman for an eye-popping ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.

Goenka expressed his confidence in Pant’s leadership, predicting that he would "become the best captain in IPL history." Pant, who captained Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024, will be the fourth player to lead LSG, following KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, and Nicholas Pooran.

The transition comes after a turbulent end to LSG’s 2024 campaign. KL Rahul, who captained LSG in the franchise's first three IPL seasons, faced backlash following the team’s ten-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 57 of IPL 2024. Goenka’s visible frustration with Rahul after the match reportedly strained their professional relationship, despite attempts at reconciliation. Consequently, LSG released Rahul ahead of the 2025 season and set their sights on Pant, seeing him as the perfect candidate to steer the team towards success.

Pant brings a wealth of experience to Lucknow, having led Delhi Capitals for three seasons. His tenure with DC included notable achievements, such as finishing at the top of the points table in the 2021 season and reaching Qualifier 2. Although DC narrowly missed a final berth that year, Pant’s tactical acumen and aggressive batting were widely praised.

At LSG, Pant’s role will be pivotal in uniting the team and driving their campaign for a maiden IPL title. The franchise’s management is optimistic about his ability to inspire the squad with his leadership and explosive batting skills.

With Sanjiv Goenka's unwavering support and the promise of a fresh start, Rishabh Pant's captaincy era at LSG is set to be one of the most anticipated storylines of IPL 2025. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if the dynamic cricketer can fulfill the lofty expectations placed on him and etch his name in IPL history as one of the greatest leaders the league has ever seen.