Punjab Kings played good cricket and won two wins in a row in IPL 2025, beating Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets at Ekana Stadium on Tuesday. This is the fourth time PBKS have started an IPL season with back-to-back victories. The win pushed them to second place in the points table after their earlier win against Gujarat Titans.

After the match, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had a long chat with PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, who played a match-winning knock, and Rishabh Pant, who had another tough day.

This game also saw a contest between two of the league’s most expensive players. LSG bought Rishab Pant for ₹27 crore, just ₹25 lakh more than Iyer, but he couldn’t make an impact. He managed only two runs off five balls, taking his total to just 17 runs from 26 balls in three matches so far.

Lucknow Supergiants ke Owner Sanjiv Goenka Shreyas Iyer se baat kr rahe hai.

Abhi koi faida nahi hai sir aap Rishabh Pant ko le kar bahut khus ho rahe the na 😆

Aaj fir pta nahi Captain ko kya bol rahe hai...!!!!😮‍💨😱😳 pic.twitter.com/o2XIOoFVCm

— Gurlabh Singh (@gurlabhsingh610) April 1, 2025

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Goenka was later seen having a serious conversation with Pant, similar to their chat after Lucknow’s earlier loss to Delhi Capitals. He appeared to be pointing his finger at Pant multiple times during the exchange. With this defeat, LSG has now lost two of their first three matches. They will hope to bounce back when they take on Mumbai Indians at home on Friday.

Speaking after the match, Pant admitted that LSG didn’t put up a big enough total. “We were 20-25 runs short, but that’s part of the game. We’re still figuring out the conditions at our home ground. Losing early wickets made things difficult, but everyone is giving their best. We planned for a slow wicket, and the slower balls were stopping a bit. We have to learn from this and move forward. There are a lot of positives, so I don’t want to say too much,” he said.

Everyone was looking at Rishabh Pant when he debuted for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025. Purchased for a record ₹27 crores, the expectations were high.

Things didn't turn out as expected.

Pant got out on a six-ball duck, and fans were left stunned and upset. It didn't take much time for people to react on Twitter (X).

Blind slogger sympathy merchant Rishabh Pant gone for 6 balls duck.

He had created a ecosystem which presented him as a big match winner and a great clutch player, media people & commentators even hyped him in T2OIs & ODIs.

Can't believe Goenka paid 27 crores for him & shame on… pic.twitter.com/PJMzI07FzF

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) March 24, 2025

27 Crore Rishabh Pant Out For 6 Ball Duck In A Match Where LSG Is Scoring At 12 Runs Per Over and batsman like Mitchell Marsh is smashing starc for fun 😂😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/V8wbQMX4b0

— Kevin (@imkevin149) March 24, 2025

Real Selfless 🔥🔥
For money For Country pic.twitter.com/IVT2i8nISi

— Honest Rishabh Pant Fan (@PR_master_Pant) March 24, 2025

There is a reason why bcci choosed kl rahul over Pant 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/EbUKxIFL0k

— 卐💛 (@Mahirat_k_choda) March 24, 2025

Indian wicketkeepers in IPL so far:

•Ishan Kishan- 106(47)
•Dhruv Jurel- 70(35)
•Sanju Samson- 66(37)
•Rishabh Pant- 🦆(6) pic.twitter.com/7Q3MMUKVGk

— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) March 24, 2025

SCORED 1 and 0 in semis and finals of T20 world cup.
Served water in the champions trophy.
Now scored 6 balls duck.

Mr.X factor Rishabh pant, never ever compare him with KL RAHUL. pic.twitter.com/13FxgdHB6b

— KL BASIT (@klbasit1) March 24, 2025

Eat Five-Star do nothing ft. Rishabh Pant pic.twitter.com/tmYGDmwCox

— Absol (@AlasFinished) March 24, 2025

No context KD to Pant 😂 pic.twitter.com/NJ0a4ZKBBt

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) March 24, 2025

The Biggest Scam in IPL History: Rishabh Pant

- Hyped as an "X-Factor"
- Became IPL’s most expensive player (₹27 Cr)
- LSG owner replaced KL Rahul with him and kept glorifying him
- When it mattered most, he choked—0(6) pic.twitter.com/5RD9N1kl0P

— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) March 24, 2025

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Though some of the fans were angered, others still have faith that Pant will pull through in the forthcoming matches. It's only the first match but with a tag as expensive as that, pressure already starts. 

Let's wait and see how Pant replies in the next match.

IPL 2025: Captains' Salaries and Their Captaincy Records

1. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)- Rishabh Pant - 27cr

Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is now the most expensive player in IPL history. After playing eight years with Delhi Capitals, he will play for a new team in IPL 2025, as Lucknow Super Giants signed him for a record price of 27Cr. Rishabh Pant has played 111 matches in the IPL, with 43 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 23 games, lost 19, and one match ended in a tie.

2.Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer: ₹26.75 Crore

Punjab Kings are looking strong ahead of IPL 2025 and they brought last year’s winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, for the new season. On top of that, Shreyas Iyer has set records of ₹26.75 Crore in the mega auction. Shreyas Iyer has played 115 IPL matches, with 69 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 38 games, lost 29, and two matches ended in a tie.

3.Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad: ₹18 Crore

Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue as Chennai Super King's captain for the second season in IPL 2025. He was one of CSK’s key players retained before last year’s mega auction. The Chennai Super King's franchise bought for ₹18 crore, making him one of their highest-paid players this season. Ruturaj Gaikwad has played 66 IPL matches, with 14 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team won 7 games, and 7 lost.

4.Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson: ₹18 Crore

Sanju Samson will continue as Rajasthan Royal's captain for the fifth season of IPL 2025. He got paid more in the retention, with his IPL salary increasing to ₹18 crore. Sanju Samson has played 167 IPL matches, with 61 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 31 games, lost 29, and one match ended in a tie.

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5.Sunrisers Hyderabad - Pat Cummins: ₹18 Crore

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹20.50 crore in IPL 2024. SRH has kept him as their captain for IPL 2025, and this season, he will earn ₹18 crore this year. Pat Cummins has played 58 matches in the IPL, with 14 of them as captain. Under his leadership, the team has won 8 games and lost 6, with no matches ending in a tie.

6.Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill: ₹16.5 Crore

Shubman Gill was made captain of Gujarat Titans before IPL 2024 after Hardik Pandya left. At that time, his IPL salary was ₹8 crore. Now, ahead of IPL 2025, GT has kept him for ₹16.5 crore. Shubman Gill has played 103 IPL matches in the IPL, with 14 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 5 games and lost 7, and 2 matches have ended in a tie.

 7.Delhi Capitals- Axar Patel: ₹16.5cr

In IPL 2025 Delhi Capitals announced Axar Patel as a Captain. Delhi Capitals retained Axar for ₹16.5 crore in IPL 2025. He is a very crucial player for the team, contributing with both bat and ball. Axar Patel has been a key player for Delhi Captails in the IPL, performing well with both bat and ball. In 150 matches, he has scored 1,653 runs, with his highest score being 66. He has an average of 21.47 and a strike rate of 130.88. Axar Patel took 123 wickets in the IPL, with an average of 30.55 and an economy rate of 7.28. His best bowling figures are 4/21.

8.Mumbai Indians - Hardik Pandya: ₹16.35 Crore

After a challenging season in IPL 2024, five-time champions Mumbai Indians have trusted Hardik Pandya to lead them again in IPL 2025. He rejoined the team last year for ₹15 crore. Hardik Pandya has played 137 matches in the IPL, with 45 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 26 games and lost 19, with no matches ending in a tie.

9.Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rajat Patidar: ₹11 Crore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru is beginning a new journey in IPL 2025 with Rajat Patidar as their captain. RCB team takes retention for ₹11 crore this season. Rajat Patidar, a strong middle-order batter, has played 27 IPL matches, scoring 799 runs at an impressive strike rate of 158.85. His highest score of 112* shows his ability to play match-winning innings in crucial games.

10.Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane: ₹1.50 Crore

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will have Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for IPL 2025. The experienced batter joined the team for ₹1.5 crore in the mega auction. Ajinkya Rahane has played 185 IPL matches in the IPL, with 25 of them as captain. Under his Captaincy, the team has won 9 games and lost 16, with no matches ending in a tie.