Rishabh Pant to lead Lucknow Super Giants in IPL

“We have decided on that the moment we won him at the auction. But we were waiting for a moment to announce it together.”

Rishabh Pant was bagged by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crores after a ferocious bidding war at the IPL auction.

Rishabh Pant (C) of Delhi Capitals walk back during match 43 of the Indian Premier League season 17 (IPL 2024) between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on the 27th April 2024. (Photo by Arjun Singh / Sportzpics for IPL)

While his former franchise Delhi Capitals opted for an Right To Match bid at Rs 20.75 crore, LSG raised the bidding by a staggering margin to Rs 27 crore, make him the most expensive signing at the auctions history ahead of Shreyas Iyer, who received a Rs 26.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings earlier this evening.

Pant has vowed to give his “200 percent” to win the team’s maiden title.

“I will give my 200 percent. That’s my commitment to you. I will try whatever is there in my power to repay the faith. I am really excited and looking forward to new beginning and new energy. And have a blast out there with lot of fun,” Pant told mediapersons after being unveiled as the new skipper.

“We start with new hope and aspirations. And most importantly, new confidence. I wanted to introduce you all to our new captain Rishabh Pant,” Goenka said.

Pant made his IPL debut in 2016 for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), and has been part of the team since, before being elevated as captain in 2021.

Pant’s IPL record has been one to look at, as the destructive wicket keeper batsman has amassed 3284 runs in 111 matches, with an astonishing strike rate of 148.93. In his 66 T20I innings for India, he has scored 1209 runs, at a strike rate of 127.26.