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In a gripping match that showcased the highs and lows of cricket, Rishabh Pant‘s much-anticipated debut as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025 turned into a nightmare. Facing off against his former team, the Delhi Capitals (DC), Pant’s performance was marred by a series of unfortunate events, culminating in a missed stumping opportunity that cost his team dearly. Fox Cricket wasted no time in mocking this blunder, highlighting the pressure and scrutiny that come with leadership in high-stakes matches.
A new beginning for Rishabh Pant
Pant stepped onto the field in Visakhapatnam with hopes high and expectations even higher. After a tumultuous period away from the game, he was eager to lead LSG to victory. However, his first outing was far from ideal. With the bat, he fell for a six-ball duck, contributing little to the team’s total of 209 runs. As captain, he faced immense pressure to guide his team to victory against a formidable opponent like DC.
Fox Cricket mocks Pant’s blunder: A missed stumping
The match reached its climax in the final over when Delhi needed six runs to win with just one wicket remaining. In a moment that would haunt Pant, Mohit Sharma stepped down the track to face spinner Shahbaz Ahmed but missed the ball entirely. Pant had a golden opportunity to stump Mohit and seal the match for LSG. Instead, he fumbled, failing to collect the ball as it spun sharply past Sharma’s bat. The moment encapsulated the tension of the match and left fans and commentators alike in disbelief.
Fox Cricket took to social media to mock Pant’s blunder with a cheeky post stating, “Missed it by THAT much. Rishabh Pant missed a stumping and it was a shocker.” This lighthearted jab at Pant’s expense reflected not only the competitive nature of cricket but also the relentless scrutiny players face in such high-pressure situations.
Also READ: Rishabh Pant names 3 players behind LSG’s dramatic loss against DC in IPL 2025
Reflections on Pant’s captaincy
Despite the disappointment of losing by just one wicket, Pant remained composed in his post-match reflections. He acknowledged that luck plays a role in cricket but also took responsibility for his missed opportunity. “If the ball hadn’t deflected off Mohit Sharma’s pads, I could have easily collected it and completed the stumping,” Pant explained in the post-match presentation. His candid admission highlighted the mental challenges captains face when their decisions directly impact their team’s fate.
The missed stumping became a topic of discussion among fans and analysts alike, sparking comparisons between Pant and legendary wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. Many questioned whether Dhoni, even at 43 years old, still possessed superior skills behind the stumps compared to Pant. This debate only intensified as fans shared clips of Dhoni’s lightning-fast stumpings from previous matches, further amplifying Pant’s blunder.
