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As Rishabh Pant's struggles in the ongoing IPL 2025 appear to be persistent, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has suggested a change in his fielding position. The situation seems to be deteriorating for the wicketkeeper-batsman with each subsequent match. Initially, during the first half of the season, his batting form did not impact the Lucknow Super Giants' performance, as they encountered little resistance in securing victories.
Despite Rishabh Pant's difficulties with the bat, Lucknow Super Giants managed to win four of their initial six games. However, their recent form has seen a downturn, with three consecutive losses, highlighting a potential void in on-field leadership. Despite LSG currently holding a firm position in the playoff race, there's a growing risk of their campaign losing momentum. Their recent performance includes a 37-run defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings on May 4. This loss marks their third consecutive defeat and their fourth in the last five matches.
While there's undoubtedly a desire from Rishabh Pant to lead his team effectively from the forefront, his individual performance hasn't been up to par recently. In the match against Punjab, while chasing a substantial target of 237 runs, he could only contribute 18 runs from 17 deliveries. Looking at his overall statistics for the season, Pant has accumulated just 128 runs across 11 games, averaging less than 13 with a strike-rate below 100.
In an effort to help Rishabh Pant rediscover his form, both with the bat and as the captain of LSG, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has offered a strategic suggestion. Australia's World Cup-winning captain believes that relinquishing the wicketkeeping duties could be beneficial for Pant.
Aaron Finch's key advice for Rishabh Pant
Specifically, Finch has proposed that Pant should pass the gloves to Nicholas Pooran. The rationale behind this recommendation is to potentially enhance on-field communication within the team. By freeing himself from the responsibilities behind the stumps, Pant might be able to focus more intently on his batting and leadership role.
"It must be really difficult to captain a side when you're the wicketkeeper. You probably get a couple of seconds to talk to your bowler between overs, and with the stop-clock rule, that time is minimal. That can be really difficult - the bowler's plan might change ball to ball, and so might Rishabh's. You can see how animated and frustrated he is when things don't go to plan," Finch told JioStar.
"Maybe it's time he says, `Pooran, you take the gloves. I need to get rhythm, manage plans better, and talk to my attack directly'," Finch added.
LSG and their captain, Rishabh Pant, are quickly approaching a critical juncture in their IPL 2025 campaign. Having lost the momentum they once had, they face an uphill battle and will need to produce an exceptional performance in the remaining matches to secure a playoff berth. Currently positioned seventh on the points table with five wins and six defeats, LSG need to stage a turnaround to stay afloat in playoff race. LSG will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 9 at the Ekana Cricket stadium in Lucknow.
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