By Subhayan Chakraborty
Rishabh Pant is struggling significantly in the IPL 2025. His lack of runs has begun to impact his captaincy, with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffering a hat-trick of defeats, diminishing their chances of qualifying for the playoffs with each passing game. With just 128 runs in 11 matches in the ongoing IPL, Pant’s poor form has not only hurt LSG but may also jeopardise his aspirations for the Test captaincy of the Indian team. With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to be named vice-captain for the upcoming five-Test tour of England due to his inability to play all matches, and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy under scrutiny, could Pant’s dismal IPL 2025 performance cost him a leadership role in the Indian Test side?
It has been evident for some time that after Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, either Shubman Gill or Pant is being considered as India’s next Test captain. However, Pant’s returns of 0, 15, 2, 2, 21, 63, 3, 0, 4, and 18 in IPL 2025 have been far from satisfactory. He has struggled to consistently score boundaries, reach double digits, or even rotate the strike effectively, making batting appear to be a monumental task this season.
Pant’s trademark jovial smile has faded as the season has progressed, and it is clear that the LSG captain is under pressure to justify his Rs 27 crore price tag. While Pant is a different beast in Test cricket—a game-changer in India’s middle order—his lean returns during the last Australia tour, except for the Sydney Test, did little to inspire confidence. Shubman Gill, on the other hand, was not at his fluent best in Australia but has turned things around in IPL 2025, excelling both with the bat and as captain of the Gujarat Titans. Gill has scored 465 runs in 10 matches at an average of 51.67 and a strike rate of 162.02, with GT players and coaching staff praising his leadership qualities. Consequently, GT has won seven of their 10 matches so far. Gill’s strong ODI record could further bolster his case over Pant in the race for India’s next Test leader. However, even Gill has not inspired confidence in the longest format, averaging just 35 after 32 Tests.
Pant’s batting failures have visibly affected his confidence as a captain. His bowling changes for LSG have been questionable, and he has been noticeably upset with some players on the field during the tournament. Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, and Shardul Thakur have faced Pant’s frustration when they’ve erred in their line and length. Known for his composure, Pant has uncharacteristically lost his cool at times in this IPL. While he has had bright moments in his captaincy, consistency has been lacking.
“I feel sorry for him because he hasn’t changed his batting order or approach,” Ambati Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out. “He’s being stubborn about how he wants to play, and it’s not working in his favor. It happens in this sport, and he’s going through a very bad patch. It can happen to anyone. I hope he takes this as a learning experience, accepts that he’s struggling, and tries to do things differently to improve every day.”
While T20 and Test cricket are vastly different formats, a lack of runs and confidence could affect Pant’s performance on the England tour, where India will rely on him as a game-changer in challenging batting conditions. Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag suggested that a conversation with Pant’s idol, MS Dhoni, could provide much-needed clarity.
“He has a phone; all he needs to do is call someone,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz. “If you’re thinking negatively, there are many cricketers you can talk to. Dhoni is his role model, so he should call him. It will lighten his mood. Pant should watch his old IPL clips where he scored runs to regain confidence. This Rishabh Pant is different from the one we saw before his injury. I remember in 2006-07, when I was struggling, I was dropped from the Indian team. Rahul Dravid told me to revisit my routine from when I was scoring runs. Sometimes, disruptions in routine affect performance.”
With the new ICC World Test Championship cycle beginning with India’s tour of England, Pant’s form and potential leadership role in the team will be closely watched in the coming weeks. However, regardless of the leadership role, India would hope that Pant is at his best with the bat in Test whites as they aim to end an 18-year Test series win drought on English soil.
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