'Does Justin Langer have brains?' Kris Srikkanth slams LSG coach for handling Rishabh Pant poorly

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 1, 2025, 16:04 IST

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Kris Srikkanth has criticized Lucknow Super Giants' handling of Rishabh Pant, questioning Justin Langer and Zaheer Khan's decisions. Pant, acquired for a substantial sum, has underperformed, and Srikkanth questioned his late appearance in a recent match. Anil Kumble also expressed concerns about Pant's batting position and perceived frustration, highlighting potential mismanagement.

'Does Justin Langer have brains?' Kris Srikkanth slams LSG coach for handling Rishabh Pant poorly

Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants' Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 cricket match between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, in Lucknow. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)

Former India captain and member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team Kris Srikkanth has lamented Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan for poorly handling Rishabh Pant in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
LSG captain Rishabh Pant, who was acquired for ₹27 crore by the Lucknow franchise, has managed just 110 runs in 10 outings.

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“I didn’t understand. Why did he come to bat for just two balls?” Srikkanth said on his YouTube show Cheeky Cheeka.

"What’s Langer trying to do? What’s the team management trying to do? What is Zaheer Khan trying to do?”
In LSG's last game against Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant walked out to bat at number 7 with two balls remaining in the innings. Pant was dismissed off the last ball of the innings, failing to score any run.

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"I don’t know. Some people say Rishabh Pant wanted to go in to bat, but they didn’t allow him," said Srikkanth.
“But he is the captain. Why should he need anybody’s permission to go in? At the end of the day, it’s the team management’s decision."
Former India captain Anil Kumble too had questioned Pant batting so low down the order.
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"It’s alright if you wanted to bat more freely under less pressure by coming in late, but this was way too late," Kumble said on JioCinema.
"The kind of frustration Rishabh is showing is evident that he was wronged. He probably wanted to bat higher.
"Was it his decision? Or was it coach Justin Langer’s, or maybe mentor Zaheer Khan’s? Whose decision was it? Because he looked very frustrated,” Kumble said.
LSG will take on Punjab Kings on Sunday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala.

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TOI Sports Desk

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