Rishabh Pant 118: LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka's one-word praise for captain goes viral

India Today

7 days ago

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka was not at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium when Rishabh Pant scored his maiden Indian Premier League century for the franchise. However, he took to social media to congratulate Pant on his sensational unbeaten 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday, 27 May."Pantastic," Sanjiv Goenka wrote in his post, sharing photos of Pant's iconic backflip celebration.advertisementGoenka had been a constant presence at Lucknow Super Giants' matches throughout the season. The business tycoon was even seen placing an arm around Pant's shoulders when the team was knocked out of playoff contention. Goenka had been unwavering in his support for the team through both the highs and lows of the campaign.'Pant'astic! #LSGvsRCB pic.twitter.com/d83M19sKP8— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) May 27, 2025
Pant was under immense pressure, coming off one of the leanest patches in his IPL career. Bought for ?27 crore - the most expensive acquisition in IPL auction history - the wicketkeeper-batter had struggled for form, failing to make any meaningful contribution with the bat. Before Tuesday's match, he had managed just one fifty in 13 appearances, amassing a mere 151 runs. | LSG vs RCB Updates |advertisementHowever, in LSG's final league game of the season, Pant rose to the occasion in style. The LSG captain smashed eight sixes and 11 boundaries during a scintillating 61-ball 118, propelling his side to a commanding total of 227 in their allotted 20 overs.Pant walked in at No. 3 ahead of the in-form Nicholas Pooran after debutant opener Matthew Bretzkee fell early. He made his intentions clear from the outset, hammering a six and two boundaries off Yash Dayal during the powerplay.Displaying shades of his vintage best, Pant dismantled the RCB bowling attack with ease. He was particularly severe against leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, who conceded 39 runs in his three overs. Even RCB's most experienced campaigner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, was not spared as Pant dispatched the pacer to the boundary with effortless precision.Pant shared a monumental 152-run partnership for the second wicket with Mitchell Marsh, who notched up his sixth century of the season for LSG. After Marsh's dismissal in the 16th over, Pant continued to launch a calculated assault to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking at a brisk pace.Even as Pooran struggled to adapt to the pace of the pitch, Pant took full responsibility for accelerating the innings towards the close.advertisementIt was a refreshing and timely innings from Pant, who was recently appointed India's vice-captain in Tests. The century, scored at an impressive strike rate, is bound to give the wicketkeeper-batter a major confidence boost ahead of the upcoming tour of England.A young Indian side, led by Shubman Gill, will begin their World Test Championship campaign with a five-match Test series against England. It will mark a new chapter for Indian cricket, following the retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin.