Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant has failed to live up to the expectations in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

The wicketkeeper-batter, who was signed for a record sum of INR 27 crore in the mega auction, has aggregated only 135 runs from 11 innings at an average of 12.27 and a strike rate of 100, including one half-century.

Pant's struggles have had a direct impact on LSG's performance this season as they have failed to win games where their top order has not clicked.

On Monday (May 19), Pant scored 7 off 6 balls in LSG’s six-wicket defeat against SRH at Ekana Cricket Stadium. That loss was final nail in the coffin as the Super Giants were knocked out of the playoffs race.

Ahead of LSG’s penultimate match of the season against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Thursday (May 22), a journalist posted on X that Rishabh Pant will be released before the IPL 2026 auction as the franchise feels his price tag is too much.

As the post went viral, the southpaw didn’t take much time to react, asking the journalist not to build everything around fake news.

"I understand fake News gives more traction To content but let’s not built everything around it . Little sense and credible news will help more rather making fake news with agenda . Thanks have a good day . Let’s be responsible and sensible what we put out on social media," Pant replied to the post.

LSG won five out of their first eight matches in the IPL 2025 season. The Rishabh Pant-led side was favorites for the playoffs but lost momentum in the second half, having now lost four matches on the bounce.

Lucknow Super Giants will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league-stage match at Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (May 27).