IPL 2025: "Baat karle Dhoni se.." Virender Sehwag's advice to struggling Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant only managed 18 runs in LSG’s 37-run loss to PBKS in Dharamsala.

This Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Rishabh Pant, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is struggling greatly with the bat. Things didn’t get any better on Sunday, May 4, as he continued to play poorly against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).  

In Dharamsala, Pant struggled once more and was unable to score many runs while chasing a lofty total of 237. Although the pitch was suitable for batting, Pant continued to look uneasy and struggled to time the ball.

Before being removed, he was only able to score 18 runs off 17 balls. This was only his fourth time scoring in double digits in 11 games this season, and even then, he was unable to convert it into a significant score.

In the ongoing IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant has amassed a pitiful 128 runs in 11 games at an average of just 12.8. LSG his team, are likewise having difficulties. Pant’s poor performance, along with that of players like Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, is causing LSG’s campaign to collapse.

Virender Sehwag tells Rishabh Pant to take advice from MS Dhoni

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag offered some straightforward but firm advice after observing Rishabh Pant’s bad play. He advised Pant to simply pick up the phone and speak with someone if he feels mentally agitated or uncertain about his game.

Additionally, Sehwag recommended that Pant view previous footage of himself, particularly from the IPL, when he was comfortably scoring runs.

“According to me, he should watch videos of himself batting when he used to make runs in the IPL. You get confidence from watching that; you remember how you used to go about your innings. He has a phone. He can pick that up and call whoever he wants. If he feels that mentally he is not thinking right, then so many cricketers can help him. If he considers Dhoni as his role model, then he should talk to him,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

LSG are currently in seventh place on the points table with 10 points from 11 games. However, even three victories might not be sufficient to secure a postseason berth given a negative Net Run Rate (NRR) of -0.47. On May 9, they will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at home.

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