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In a high-octane Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC), the spotlight wasn’t solely on the cricketing action. Instead, an animated and seemingly intense conversation between LSG skipper Rishabh Pant and team mentor Zaheer Khan in the LSG dug out stole headlines. As cameras panned to the LSG dugout during the penultimate over of their innings, viewers were drawn to the expressive exchange between Pant and Zaheer—a moment now making waves across social media.
Pant, who was acquired by LSG for a record ₹27 crore in the 2024 auction, has been under scrutiny for both form and strategy. During this particular match, Pant made the surprising call to drop himself down the batting order to number seven. When he finally walked in, he faced just two deliveries before being bowled out by DC’s Mukesh Kumar on the final ball of the innings. LSG limped to a modest 159/6, a target that was comfortably chased down by Delhi with eight wickets and 13 balls to spare.
Rishabh Pant and Zaheer Khan engage in a fiery discussion
Pant’s decision to demote himself raised eyebrows among fans and experts alike. With LSG at 87/0 at one stage, the sudden collapse to 110/4 revealed the lack of middle-order composure—something Pant might have helped stabilize had he batted higher. The viral video showing him animatedly discussing with Zaheer suggests a moment of introspection or possibly a debate on the game plan’s execution.
While the exact content of their conversation remains unknown, the visuals indicate a leader grappling with the weight of a misfiring strategy. Zaheer, a veteran of Indian cricket and a seasoned tactician, appeared composed yet engaged as he listened and responded to Pant’s fervent gestures. This behind-the-scenes glimpse offered a rare insight into the pressure-cooker environment of elite T20 cricket, especially when expectations are sky-high and margins for error razor-thin.
Here’s the video:
embarassing from pant 🤢 https://t.co/pSTn3lkScf pic.twitter.com/snbPkwAIwl
— sᴜɢᴀʀ (@Sugar_Sai_Gill) April 22, 2025
Pant admits the harsh reality in the post-match presentation
The aftermath was no kinder. In the post-match presentation, Pant candidly admitted that the team had fallen “20 runs short” and acknowledged the influence of the toss and pitch conditions. “In Lucknow, the toss plays a big part. We just couldn’t get it away,” he said, summing up a frustrating outing.
Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, capitalized on the situation with clinical precision. A stellar bowling performance by Mukesh, who scalped four key wickets, shifted momentum decisively. A steady unbeaten knock by KL Rahul, partnered by Abishek Porel‘s quickfire 51, sealed a convincing win for DC, propelling them to second place in the league standings.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Fans brutally roast Rishabh Pant for his late batting arrival during the LSG vs DC clash
