Aakash Chopra questioned Rishabh Pant’s shot selection during the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) crushing loss to the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (April 27) as the wicketkeeper-batter’s struggle continues in the ongoing IPL 2025.
With INR 27 crore, Rishabh Pant is the most expensive signing in IPL auction history, but he failed to live up to the expectations badly, as he could score only 110 runs in 10 matches so far at a meager average of 12.22.
Most recently, Pant could only manage four runs off two balls as Lucknow Super Giants fell short by 54 runs while chasing a 216-run target set by Mumbai Indians.
Aakash Chopra slams Rishabh Pant’s shot selection amid IPL 2025 struggles
After another poor performance from the LSG captain in the ongoing IPL 2025, Chopra believes that Rishabh Pant might not be in the right mindset to bat, as he highlighted his poor run in the ongoing season.
He questioned Pant’s shot selection after his quick dismissal while attempting a reverse sweep against MI. Chopra said that the left-handed batter has been disappointing this year.
Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel, “The biggest story is Rishabh Pant’s. What are you doing? He hit a four off the first ball and then got out off the second ball while playing the reverse sweep again. All of us say that one shouldn’t comment on the way Rishabh Pant gets out because he scores runs like that only.”
The former Indian batter added, “However, one has to comment if he doesn’t score runs, and he hasn’t scored runs this year. I say he is a generational talent, but he has been extremely ordinary this year. The one good thing he did was that he came to bat at No. 4, but it seems like he is not in the right mental space from the batting point of view.”
Aakash Chopra hails MI’s bowling and batting against LSG
On the other hand, Chopra hailed Mumbai Indians pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult for their outstanding spells against the LSG. Bumrah took 4 wickets for 22 runs, while Boult claimed 3 wickets and conceded just 20 runs in his four overs as LSG bowled out for just 161 runs.
Speaking about MI’s batting, the cricket pundit lauded Suryakumar Yadav, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, and Naman Dhir for making important contributions in the team’s victory against the LSG. He also mentioned debutant Corbin Bosch, who scored a quick cameo of 20* off 10 balls.
Every guy has come in form: Aakash Chopra
Chopra further noted, “Every guy has come in form. Rohit Sharma got out, but he hit two sixes. He was batting well. Ryan Rickelton was at the other end. He is now batting very well. Suryakumar Yadav is batting like Suryakumar Yadav.”
At the end, the cricket expert noted that MI peaked at the right time, winning five games in a row, but pointed out that their road to the IPL 2025 playoffs won’t be easy, with crucial matches against Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Delhi Capitals remaining in the tournament.
