Faf du Plessis Criticises Rishabh Pant, Questions Rs 27 Crore Price Tag After Forgettable IPL Season
New Delhi: Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis has openly criticised Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) star Rishabh Pant, questioning the hefty Rs 27 crore price tag the wicket-keeper batter commanded in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Pant, who was bought for an IPL record fee, endured a disappointing first season with LSG, who finished seventh in the standings. Apart from a century in the team’s final game of 2025, Pant managed just 151 runs in 12 innings, leading to widespread scrutiny of his form.
Du Plessis Questions the Hype Around Pant
Speaking on Star Sports, du Plessis expressed his confusion over Pant’s high valuation despite his inconsistent T20 record.
“If you look at his T20 numbers, it’s not that great. So why is there such an obsession with him? Even in the previous auction, everyone wanted him in their team,” said du Plessis.
He added:
“You look at players like Pant in the auction and ask why there is such a big craze over someone like him if the game of T20 has evolved so much in terms of numbers from the analysts and coaches who are highly detailed on numbers.”
Criticism of Pant’s Approach
The former South Africa captain, who played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and RCB during his IPL career, also questioned Pant’s approach to T20 batting.
“It boils down to him having too many options in his head. It feels like he can score a six off every ball in every part of the ground. But you still need a method even for T20 batting,” he explained.
Du Plessis further elaborated:
“With the great T20 players, you have an idea of where they are going to score their boundaries and how they’ll work around their weaknesses. But with Pant, you feel like he’s always on the edge. You feel like he can get out at any stage, and it’s almost frantic at some stages.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the criticism, Pant is set to continue as captain of LSG in IPL 2026, giving him a chance to bounce back and justify his record-breaking auction price.
With expectations high and fans eager to see improved consistency, Pant’s performance in the upcoming season will be closely watched by both critics and supporters.
