He has been on the target of everyone since the manner in which the IPL 2025 season has started for Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant. Ever since Lucknow Super Giants bought him for Rs 27.75 crore and made him captain, everyone's eyes were on whether Pant would be able to prove this price right. But this season has proved to be very bad for Pant. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he did not even land for batting, who raised the question- are Pant now afraid of batting?

Kolkata and Lucknow collided on Tuesday 8 April at Eden Gardens. Lucknow batted first in this match. The opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aidan Markram made a stormy start for him. After that, Nicholas Puran, who came at number three, took the front and rained sixes and fours while blowing the bowlers of Kolkata. He shared a 71 -run partnership in 30 balls for the second wicket with Marsh.

Pant did not land for batting

Then, when Marsh was out on the second ball of the 16th over, it was expected that Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant would come for batting like every time. But as soon as the new batsman of Lucknow landed for batting, everyone was shocked. These batsmen were not Pant, but Finisher Abdul Samad. Seeing this, questions arose- are Rishabh Pant scared of batting? Did he not trust his batting?

Batting not battling in fear?

Not only Samad, but even after Samad was dismissed in the 19th over, Pant did not land for batting. Then in the 20th over, he was fully ready and was seen waiting near the boundary. Eventually he did not land for batting. In such a situation, he was trolled badly on social media and many users accused him of hiding in fear.

Eater rishabh pant is hidden in fear -sandad on a flat pitch -or even lsg mangement has finally given up on Rishabh Pant.

Goenka was hyping this 27 crore scammer as the "x-factor," btw. pic.twitter.com/lf2eo4mbgf

- Starcykkr (@Starckkr) April 8, 2025

Rishabh pant is hidding Himself from another failure.

- kunal yadav (@kunal_klr) April 8, 2025

Rishabh Pant Didnt even try to bat: looks like low self -teem open before. pic.twitter.com/08cRN34g6y

- Dinda academy (@academy_dinda) April 8, 2025

How is Pant's performance?

Seeing this year's performance of Pant, his fear is also justified. Pant, who became the most expensive player in the history of IPL, has not played a single big innings yet. Even in his first match as the captain of Lucknow, he could not open an account after playing 6 balls. Overall, he has been able to score only 19 runs in 4 innings of this season, in which only one boundary has come out of his bat.