Rishabh Pant’s LSG Captaincy Debut Ends in Embarrassment, Faces Online Backlash After Golden Duck

Rishabh Pant’s much-anticipated first appearance as the skipper of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) didn’t go as planned—in fact, it turned into a disaster. Facing off against his old franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC), Pant failed to open his account and was dismissed for a six-ball duck, triggering a flood of sarcastic reactions and memes across social media.

In the fourth match of the IPL 2025 season, all eyes were on Pant. After all, LSG had splurged a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore on him during the mega auction, banking on his experience and explosive style to lead from the front. But the return to the IPL didn’t quite feel like a homecoming—it felt more like a horror show.

Opening the innings, LSG got off to a flying start, thanks to fireworks from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran. Marsh pummeled 72 off just 36 balls, and Pooran wasn’t far behind, smashing 75 in a mere 30 deliveries. The scoreboard read a promising 161/2 at 13.3 overs when Pant walked in to bat. Expectations were sky-high, but within minutes, they came crashing down.

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Facing left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav, Pant attempted to go big straight away. Kuldeep tossed one wide outside off, inviting the shot—and Pant took the bait. But instead of clearing the ropes, he ended up mistiming the ball, offering a simple catch to Faf du Plessis at long-off. And just like that, his inning ended before it could even begin.

What followed was a storm of trolling online. Fans were ruthless. Many pointed out the irony of Pant’s failure against his former team, mocking both his price tag and his performance.

One user quipped, “Still playing for Delhi Capitals, it seems.” Another joked, “Pant pulled off the impossible—scoring 0(6) on a pitch where others were striking at 250.” Some even dragged LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka into the conversation, suggesting he might be regretting his investment already.

Another comment read, “LSG just paid ₹27 crore for Pant’s banter behind the stumps and hugs with Rohit and Virat,” while someone else added, “Pant’s secretly avenging KL Rahul—plot twist.”

To make matters worse for LSG, Pant’s dismissal marked a turning point. The flow of runs slowed, wickets began to tumble, and four of their remaining batters fell for single-digit scores. What looked like a potential 230+ total ended with LSG crawling to 209, thanks only to David Miller’s gritty 27 off 19 at the end.

While one match doesn’t define a player—especially someone of Pant’s caliber—the social media mob rarely waits for a comeback story. For now, his stint as LSG’s captain has begun on a shaky note, and unless he bounces back quickly, the heat will only intensify.