Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has set high expectations from the newly-appointed captain Rishabh Pant as the franchise looks to make a fresh start in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The wicketkeeper-batter was roped in by LSG for a staggering INR 27 crore (approximately US$ 3.21 million) during the mega auction last November, making him the most expensive buy in the IPL auction history.

KL Rahul had led LSG in their first three seasons and the franchise also made it to the IPL playoffs in the initial two editions. However, a lackluster 2024 campaign, where the team finished seventh, prompted the franchise management to make significant changes. Rahul was released ahead of the mega auction, leaving the captaincy slot vacant.

As Pant was officially named LSG’s captain on Monday (January 20), Goenka revealed that they were dead-set on bringing in the all-format start to their side.

“We had kept a budget of Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant. We were adamant about getting him (during the IPL auction)," Goenka told Star Sports.

Goenka has so much confidence in Pant that he expects the 27-year-old to become the greatest player in the IPL history.

“My thinking was that time will prove that he’s not the only most expensive player in IPL but he’s going to be the best player in IPL. I have never seen a player with so much hunger and energy; he has a casual style of leadership; it is almost like the boy next door."

“I see a born leader in Rishabh Pant. He will probably be the best captain IPL has ever seen. People now say Mahi & Rohit are IPL’s most successful captains. Mark my words, after 10-12 years, it will be Mahi, Rohit and Pant."

The LSG owner also emphasized how it was needed for the franchise to create a platform with mutual trust and learn to take lessons from their wins and losses.

“Rishabh Pant knows a few players, doesn’t know others. We have to create a platform where there’s mutual trust. End of the day, you want to win. You won’t win every game—losing and winning are part and parcel. You learn to take defeat with victory," Goenka said.

With Pant leading, LSG will benefit from a strong squad, featuring key overseas players such as David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram, along with Indian seamers like Akash Deep and Avesh Khan.

Rishabh Pant will now work closely with LSG’s head coach, Justin Langer, with whom he has interacted during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, and the team’s new mentor, Zaheer Khan, as they strive for a successful IPL 2025 campaign.