Mon Mar 24 17:10:31 UTC 2025: ## Pant’s IPL Debut a Dud as Lucknow Super Giants Fall Short Against Delhi Capitals

**Lucknow, India** – Rishabh Pant’s highly anticipated debut for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ended in disappointment on Monday. The star batsman, acquired for a whopping ₹27 crore, was dismissed for a six-ball duck in LSG’s opening match against his former team, the Delhi Capitals.

Despite explosive performances from Mitchell Marsh (72 runs, including a 21-ball fifty) and Nicholas Pooran (75 runs off 30 balls), LSG’s innings faltered in the second half. After a blistering start, they managed only 76 runs in the final eight overs, finishing with a sub-par 209/8. Kuldeep Yadav (2/20) and Mitchell Starc (3/42) were instrumental in stemming LSG’s momentum for Delhi.

Marsh’s powerful hitting early in the innings, including six sixes and an equal number of boundaries, set the tone for a potential high score. Pooran followed suit with a stunning display of strokeplay, smashing seven sixes and six fours before the LSG’s charge was stifled. A dropped catch by Sameer Rizvi offered Pooran a lifeline, a mistake he ruthlessly exploited.

Pant’s failure to contribute, however, dominated post-match discussions, sparking considerable criticism on social media given his hefty price tag. The team’s inability to capitalize on a strong start ultimately cost them dearly. David Miller’s late fightback (27 runs off 19 balls) pushed LSG past 200 but wasn’t enough to compensate for Pant’s early dismissal and the mid-innings collapse.

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