Thu May 22 16:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
**Underperforming Pant Denies Release Rumors, Slams “Fake News”**
**Lucknow, India** – Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant has publicly refuted rumors circulating about his potential release from the team ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The speculation arose following a disappointing performance in the initial 12 matches of IPL 2025, where Pant averaged just 12.27, scoring only 135 runs.
Reports had suggested that LSG might be considering dropping the highly-paid player. However, Pant took to social media platform X to strongly deny these claims, labeling them as “nonsense” and calling out those spreading “fake news.”
“I understand that fake news helps content get more attention, but we shouldn’t build everything around it,” Pant wrote. “A little understanding and credible news would help more than creating fake news with an agenda.”
He further urged social media users to be responsible and sensible with their online posts.
Pant, acquired by LSG for a substantial ₹27 crore (approximately $3.2 million USD), is currently one of the most expensive players in the IPL. His performance has been under intense scrutiny, making the release rumors particularly impactful. The clarification from Pant aims to quash the speculation and refocus attention on his on-field performance for the remainder of the season.
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