NEW DELHI: Despite Rishabh Pant‘s dismal start to IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed remains unfazed by the captain’s poor form with the bat.
Pant, bought for a record Rs 27 crore, has managed just 19 runs from four innings, averaging 4.75 with a strike rate of 59.37. But Shahbaz is confident the southpaw will deliver when it matters most.
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“There is no change in his mood. As always, he is chilled and relaxed,” Shahbaz said ahead of LSG’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. “He is working very hard on his batting, and we believe that when crunch time comes, Rishabh Pant will score runs and win matches for us.”
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Shahbaz also weighed in on the Eden pitch, which has been under scrutiny after KKR’s opening loss. As a Bengal player familiar with local conditions, he expects the surface to assist spinners.
“This wicket looks slower. I don’t think it will turn much, but the ball may stop a bit,” he noted. “It’s not surprising they’ve prepared a spin-friendly wicket with Narine and Varun in their side.”
LSG will hope Pant finds his touch soon — preferably on a pitch that promises a close contest.
