How the most expensive player of IPL-18, LSG skipper Rishabh (R27 crore) flopped as batter, wicketkeeper and captain, leading to the team’s failure to qualify for Playoffs
LSG captain Rishabh Pant walks back after his dismissal against DC in Visakhapatnam on March 24. Pic/AFP
Pant has scored just 135 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 100 and average of only 12.27, which pales in comparison to last year, when he scored 446 runs at a strike rate of 155.40, averaging 40.55.
Pant has just one half-century so far, a 49-ball 63 vs Chennai Super Kings in Lucknow, and that too after struggling against spinners Noor Ahmed and Ravindra Jadeja.
Poor form affected Pant’s captaincy too, as he failed to inspire his bowlers, who were the most expensive unit in the Powerplay, conceding 10.5 runs per over.
Pant’s wicketkeeping saw a dip as well, as he took just five catches and effected only one stumping in 12 games, while last season, he had taken 11 catches and had five stumpings in 13 ties.
