Following a dramatic last-over loss to Delhi Capitals, Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his support behind Rishabh Pant, believing the young wicketkeeper-batter will grow stronger from the experience.
The high-scoring thriller saw Lucknow Super Giants put up an imposing total of 209 for eight, thanks to explosive half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36) and Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30). However, despite Delhi’s top-order collapse at 65 for five, Ashutosh Sharma’s blistering unbeaten 66 off 31 deliveries turned the match on its head, guiding the Capitals to a stunning one-wicket victory.
While Pant had an underwhelming outing with the bat, scoring a duck in his first match as captain, Gavaskar remains confident that he will rise to the challenge.
“When things go well, there isn’t much to analyze, but when you fall short, that’s when you truly understand the areas that need improvement,” Gavaskar remarked.
He emphasized that setbacks often serve as the best learning experiences and believes Pant will gain crucial insights into both his batting and leadership.
“Rishabh himself mentioned in the post-match interview that you learn more from failures than from success. This is just the beginning—there are 13 more matches ahead. He’s an astute cricketer, and I have no doubt that he’ll sharpen his game,” Gavaskar added.
The veteran cricketer also pointed out that confidence in captaincy often stems from personal performance.
“When a captain contributes runs or takes wickets, it directly impacts their ability to make sound decisions—whether it’s setting the field or making bowling changes. Once Pant starts scoring, his leadership will reflect that confidence as well.”
Despite the rocky start, Gavaskar sees this as just a stepping stone in Pant’s journey. With his natural talent and resilience, the young captain has every chance to make a powerful comeback in the remainder of IPL 2025.