Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant is ready to press pause. After a crushing six-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final group match of IPL 2025, Pant said he plans to “switch off” for a few days before shifting his focus to the upcoming five-Test series in England.
🗣️ “I just want to switch off for a few days, not think about cricket and then the England series is coming up. I’m preparing for that in a good frame of mind,” said Pant following LSG’s exit from playoff contention.
💔 IPL Campaign Ends on Sour Note
Pant’s LSG endured a dramatic downturn in form — five wins in their first eight games, followed by just one in the next six — derailing their playoff hopes in front of home fans at Ekana Stadium.
Despite the team’s disappointing finish, Pant ended his IPL 2025 on a personal high, hammering an unbeaten 118 off 61 balls in a valiant effort that ultimately fell short in a record-breaking chase by RCB.
🔥 “Make it Big When It Starts to Click”
After a frustrating run — just 151 runs at 13.72 average and 99.34 strike rate across early matches — Pant admitted he felt the runs were coming. When they finally did, he made it count.
💬 “Sometimes it just doesn’t come off. Today, I made sure that if I am starting well, I should make it a big one. Like all experienced players do — learning from the best,” he explained.
He described his approach as simple yet intense:
💬 “I played every ball with the same intensity… tried to read the field, play through the line, and keep things very simple.”
🇮🇳 Deputy Role in High-Stakes England Tour
Pant’s return to top form couldn’t have come at a better time. The wicketkeeper-batter will serve as vice-captain to Shubman Gill in the crucial England Test series, beginning June 20 at Headingley.
India’s World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign hinges on the outcome of the five-match series, and Pant’s form — especially after his road to recovery from injury and lean form — adds a vital boost to the lineup.
🏏 RCB’s Chase Overshadows Pant’s Ton
RCB pulled off a historic 228-run chase — third-highest in IPL history — behind captain-for-the-night Jitesh Sharma’s fiery 85 off 33*, and support from *Virat Kohli (54), Phil Salt (30), and Mayank Agarwal (41)**.
For Pant, though, the result now takes a back seat as he eyes a red-ball reset.
🧘 “There’ll be a lot to talk about in terms of improvement, but for now, the season’s ending… It’s time to just switch off.”