IPL 2025: Dugout Drama as Rishabh Pant, Zaheer Khan Caught in Heated Exchange During LSG vs DC Match

Lucknow, April 23 – A moment of visible tension between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant and team mentor Zaheer Khan became a major talking point during LSG’s crushing defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) in their IPL 2025 fixture at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday.

With just two overs left in LSG’s innings, cameras caught Pant – already padded up – in an intense sideline exchange with Zaheer. The animated conversation, featuring sharp gestures and focused expressions, hinted at a possible disagreement or a last-minute strategic debate.

The incident gained attention due to Pant’s unusual decision to bat at No. 7, a rare demotion for the aggressive left-hander. He only faced two deliveries before being bowled by DC pacer Mukesh Kumar on the final ball of the innings, sparking further questions about his role in the team's batting strategy.

LSG, despite being well-placed at 87/1 after 10 overs, stumbled to a modest 159/6 – the lowest first-innings total recorded at the Ekana Stadium. Key middle-order batsmen including David Miller, Ayush Badoni, and Abdul Samad failed to make significant contributions, leaving fans and pundits puzzled by the batting order decisions.

Pant addressed the issue post-match, clarifying the reasoning behind his late entry. “The idea was to capitalise. We sent Samad to go after it on a wicket like that. After that, Miller came in, and we got stuck,” he said. “These are the things we’re trying to figure out to find our best combination. The toss played a huge part. Whoever bowls first in Lucknow gets more help from the wicket. We knew we were 20 runs short. But we’re not looking for excuses.”

The sideline moment has sparked widespread speculation on social media and among cricket experts, with many questioning whether the batting order confusion reflected deeper strategic misalignment within the LSG camp.

This is only the third time in Pant’s IPL career that he has batted at No. 7 — the last two being during his debut season in 2016 with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

As LSG look to recalibrate mid-season, the team’s next few games will be critical in determining not just their playoff chances, but also how leadership dynamics within the squad evolve.