"Stop Retaining Them": Rishabh Pant's 'Excuse' Behind LSG's Poor IPL 2025 Show Gets Sharp Retort

By Admin

20 May, 2025

The IPL 2025 season has ended on a sour note for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and while fans were still digesting their exit from the playoffs race, an unexpected explanation from Rishabh Pant sparked a bigger debate. Citing the team’s injury-plagued bowling attack as the primary reason for their underwhelming performance, Pant’s words were intended to offer context — but they instead triggered a sharp reaction from former cricketer Mohammad Kaif.

Injuries or Strategy?

Rishabh Pant, who was handling wicket-keeping duties for LSG this season, attributed their failure to missing key bowlers — particularly Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan — for most of the tournament. “Definitely it could have been one of our best seasons, but coming into the tournament, we had a lot of gaps and injuries,” Pant reflected after LSG's final game against SRH. “The way we planned the auction, if we had the same bowling lineup, things could’ve been different.”

While Pant emphasized team unity and resilience despite the setbacks, not everyone was convinced. Mohammad Kaif didn’t mince his words in response, saying it was time the franchise stopped investing heavily in injury-prone players.

Kaif’s No-Nonsense Reply

Kaif’s brutal honesty called out what many critics have whispered for seasons. “I would rather pay money to retain players who can play the full season. LSG's entire bowling attack is injury-prone. I'm not saying injuries don't happen, but for players who are more susceptible to them, stop retaining them for big money. Instead, pick them up at the auction,” he advised.

LSG’s retention list before the IPL 2025 mega auction saw big investments:

• Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore)
  
  

• Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crore)
  
  

• Mayank Yadav (₹11 crore)
  
  

• Mohsin Khan (₹4 crore)
  
  

• Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore)
  
  

Of these, Mayank Yadav played only 2–3 matches and Mohsin Khan didn’t feature in a single game due to injury. Even Akash Deep, one of their pacers picked during the auction, remained largely unavailable. The glaring lack of fit and available bowlers crippled the team’s campaign.

The Bigger Question for LSG

With such investments made into players who could barely contribute on the field, Kaif’s comment raises a crucial point — is the LSG management prioritizing potential over reliability? In a league as competitive as the IPL, the balance between banking on talent and ensuring squad depth is critical. Injury-prone stars may shine bright, but only if they're on the field.

As LSG prepares for the next season, this IPL off-season could be a moment of reflection — not just for the coaching staff, but for the decision-makers who must reassess the franchise's long-term planning and player retention strategies.

Final Thoughts

Excuses or genuine explanations — fans can decide. But one thing is clear: in the ever-evolving landscape of the IPL, availability is just as valuable as ability. And as Kaif bluntly put it — maybe it’s time to stop retaining them.