Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant faced backlash for batting as low as No. 7 during his team’s IPL 2025 match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (April 22).

The likes of Abdul Samad and David Miller batted ahead of Pant, much to the shock of the fans and experts. In fact, Impact Sub Ayush Badoni also came out ahead of the southpaw and tried to rescue LSG after their mini-collapse between the 10th and 14th overs.

After his team’s eight-wicket defeat, Pant addressed the decision and said that the idea was for Samad to capitalize on the track, where the ball was slightly gripping in the first innings.

Furthermore, Pant explained that Badoni was being used as an Impact Sub to accommodate tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav in the line-up. His reasoning did not make much sense as the hosts were batting first and Mayank himself was named in the Impact Player list.

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu wasn’t buying Rishabh Pant’s logic either as he suggested that the LSG captain needs to take more ownership and bat higher in the order.

"I feel Pant really needs to take the onus on himself. He really needs to take the decisions on his own. Sometimes these visuals are not really good if you are a good team. Because you want everything to be closed doors. You want everything to be said indoors. And also you don’t want any dirty laundry to be washed outside," Rayudu said on JioStar.

"Pant really needs to take the control of the decisions that are being made at LSG. He needs to come up the order. He cannot give any more excuses. He is the captain and it is a captain’s sport. We all acknowledge that. Going forward, LSG need to make a few changes: maybe get Mayank Yadav in. Also Pant has to bat slightly higher. You are visibly quite tensed about the whole situation,” he added.

Rishabh Pant bagged a two-ball duck after walking out to bat in the final over of LSG’s innings. It was his second failure against DC this season after having scored a six-ball duck against his former franchise in Vizag last month.

Pant has failed to do justice with his whopping price tag in the ongoing IPL. The wicketkeeper-batter, who was signed for a record sum of INR 27 crore in the mega auction last November, has amassed only 106 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 96.36, showcasing his minimal impact this season.

Lucknow Super Giants are currently reeling at the fifth spot on the 10-team points table. They will next face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 27).