Super Giants bank heavily on Pant power

Bengaluru: One of American rapper Biggie Smalls’  hit single, released in 1997 was ‘mo(re) money, mo(re) problems.’ 

You would assume, just as several examples testify through the history of IPL, Rishabh Pant’s price tag does layer him with problems he has rarely had to deal with. 

Pant has carried the load of being a captain with the Delhi Capitals in the past, but he didn’t come with the label of being the most expensive buy in an IPL auction then. When Lucknow went all out for him and eventually landed him for Rs 27 crore, their intentions were apparent: get a one-in-a-generation batter, a fine wicket-keeper and an efficient leader all at one go. 

There’s no doubt that Pant can deliver on the first two fronts for they involve his skill, but his abilities as a captain will be tested, especially since LSG don’t possess the most inspiring of squads. 

They’re good, sure, but they don’t have those marauders or those fear-inducing pacers or spinners who can turn the tide.

Again, all that can be an aside if they all perform their roles and come together in tandem, but in a tournament as long and as taxing, its team effort can only take you so far. Every team needs a couple of fabric twisters to get ahead, and as it stands, LSG don’t have many. 

Pant is surely one of them and surely he’s raring to have a crack at everything in his arc after warming the bench during the Champions Trophy, but few others on this squad have that aura about them. 

David Miller and Nicholas Pooran are there but accommodating both can have some impact on team balance, and also, if you notice, neither is a bowler. That, genuinely, is LSG’s biggest concern. Ravi Bishnoi and Shahbaz Ahmed are their spinners, while Shamar Joseph, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan are their pace resources.

LSG have also been hit hard with their tearaway
Mayank Yadav ruled out of at initial part of the season while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been cleared to only bat, severely limiting their pace bowling options.  

Mat: 44; Won: 24; Lost: 19; NR: 1; W%: 54.54

Highest total: 257/5 vs Punjab Kings (Mohali, April 28, 2023).

Lowest total: 82/10 vs Gujarat Titans (Pune, May 10, 2022). 

Best finishes: Third place (2022, 2023)

SQUAD: Rishabh Pant (captain), Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Matthew Breetzke.