On Thursday, Rishabh Pant, the wicketkeeper-batter for India, had a really special moment with a young fan. They had a nice chat that seemed to spark some genuine connection, and the kid’s face lit up with excitement as he asked Pant to sign his bat. Like any good sport, Pant happily obliged, making the boy’s day a bit brighter.
But wait, it got even better! With a shy smile, the kid then made a sweet request for a pizza. It was such a simple thing, but it really touched Pant, who decided to get a hot pizza delivered just for the kid. You could see the pure joy on the kid’s face as he received his tasty treat, and it was a lovely reminder of how small gestures can really mean a lot.
Their interaction didn’t just stop at the autograph and the pizza. The boy, who was also a lefty just like Pant, showed off his own version of the famous scoop shot. It was an adorable exchange between a star player and a young fan who just wanted to share his love for the game.
On the flip side, Pant has been having a rough time lately as both a batter and captain for the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. He’s only managed to score 103 runs over six matches, which gives him a not-so-great average of 17.16. Under his leadership, the team has won four out of seven matches, and they’re currently sitting in fifth place on the points table, thankfully having a positive net run rate.
He’s had a few ups and downs too. Aside from a decent 63-run inning against the Chennai Super Kings, his other scores have been pretty low at 0, 15, 2, 2, and 21. It’s been a tough run for him lately. After a loss to Delhi Capitals in their first game, a video of him chatting with Lucknow owner Sanjeev Goenka became really popular online. It brought back memories of a heated discussion that Goenka had with KL Rahul after a match last year.
When it comes to playing against Chennai Super Kings, Pant has actually done pretty well historically. He’s racked up 438 runs against them in 12 matches, averaging 48.66 with a strike rate of 152.1, including four fifties. That’s his second-best performance against any team in the IPL, just behind his 551 runs against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
However, this season, he seems to be having a hard time with spin bowlers. In IPL 2025, he has only managed to score 31 runs off 43 balls against spin, and he’s been dismissed a couple of times as well. In terms of pace, he’s shown more promise, scoring 72 runs off 56 balls, which shows he has the potential to bounce back.
Looking ahead, Lucknow Super Giants are gearing up for their next match against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, April 19, in Jaipur. Fans will be hoping to see Pant turn things around and get back to form on the field.
