'I used to invent ways to get dismissed and Pant is doing worse than me': Kris Srikkanth wants LSG to bench Rishabh for remaining matches

It has been a horrendous season for the Indian Premier League (IPL) history's most expensive player, Rishabh Pant. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain has had a horrendous IPL season. It turned worse for them as LSG were knocked out of IPL 2025 playoffs race with a six-wicket loss at home to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). LSG are set to play for pride in the remaining two games but former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, who has also served as national team's chief selector, has said that Pant is inventing ways to get dismissed like he did three decades ago.

On May 19, Pant walked out to bat at no.3, ahead of Caribbean batter Nicholas Pooran. The move did not work as Pant registered another single-digit score. The wicketkeeper-batter had to return to the pavillion as Eshan Malinga took a spectacular catch.

“Unfortunately things are not going Rishabh Pant’s way,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka.

“Even when captaining… be it bowling changes or field placements, he seems to be messing up in some form or the other. Things are not going his way. Even with the bat, he can just play freely and be bold, but he seems to be playing half-hearted shots with no clarity. Every game he is finding new ways to get dismissed. During my playing days I used to invent ways to get dismissed and Pant is doing worse than me. 30 years back I was like that, today he is finding new ways to get out — reverse-sweep, reverse-paddle, swinging wildly — all of it is happening."

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Pant has registered only four double-digit scores this season. He averages just over 12 with 135 runs from 11 innings. His strike rate is 100. The southpaw's only half-century came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a losing cause.

Srikkanth's message to LSG think tank

Ahead of LSG's clash against Gujarat Titans (GT), Srikkanth wants the team management to bench Pant. In addition, he wants them to revamp the bowling attack for the next season.

“I just want him to be left alone…they should say enough, just go and spend some time away. The season is over. Whatever they are planning for the next season — they have to change the core and bring in bowlers — they don’t have any bowlers in this team,” Srikkanth said.

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After taking on GT, Pant's LSG will go up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 27. It will be interesting to see where they finish on the points table.