Rishabh Pant showed lack of trust in Bishnoi in IPL 2025: Irfan
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most competitive and thrilling T20 leagues in the world. Every year, the league witnesses new talents emerging, and established players showcasing their skills. However, sometimes, the league also exposes the weaknesses and shortcomings of certain players and teams. One such instance that caught the attention of former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan was the lack of trust shown by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant in young spinner Ravi Bishnoi during the IPL 2025 season.
Ravi Bishnoi, who had a base price of ₹2 crore, was acquired by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for a whopping ₹7.2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. This significant investment in Bishnoi’s talent is a testament to his potential and abilities as a spinner. However, despite his impressive skills, Bishnoi had a relatively modest outing in the IPL 2025 season, picking up nine wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 10.83. According to Irfan Pathan, one of the reasons for Bishnoi’s underwhelming performance was the lack of trust shown by Rishabh Pant in the young spinner.
Pathan, who has played for several teams in the IPL, including the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), feels that Pant’s captaincy and team management played a significant role in Bishnoi’s lackluster performance. “I think Rishabh Pant showed a lack of trust in Ravi Bishnoi during the IPL 2025 season,” Pathan said in a recent interview. “Despite being a talented spinner, Bishnoi was not given the opportunities he deserved, and his economy rate suffered as a result.”
Pathan’s comments are not entirely unfounded, as Bishnoi’s performances in the IPL 2025 season were indeed inconsistent. There were moments when he looked unplayable, but there were also instances where he was taken apart by the opposition batsmen. However, Pathan believes that with more trust and confidence from his captain, Bishnoi could have performed much better. “If you don’t trust your bowlers, they will never be able to perform to their full potential,” Pathan said. “As a captain, it’s essential to back your players and give them the freedom to express themselves on the field.”
The lack of trust shown by Pant in Bishnoi is also reflected in the latter’s batting position. Despite being a capable batsman, Bishnoi was often sent in to bat at the lower order, where he had limited opportunities to make an impact. This, according to Pathan, was a missed opportunity for LSG, as Bishnoi could have been used as a floating batsman to accelerate the innings in the middle overs.
The IPL 2026 auction, however, has given Bishnoi a fresh start, and he will be eager to prove himself in the new season. With a significant price tag of ₹7.2 crore, the pressure will be on Bishnoi to deliver, but he will also have the opportunity to play under a new captain and team management. It will be interesting to see how Bishnoi performs in the upcoming season and whether he can live up to the expectations of his new team.
In conclusion, the IPL 2025 season was a mixed bag for Ravi Bishnoi, and his performances were affected by the lack of trust shown by Rishabh Pant. However, with a new team and a fresh start, Bishnoi will be eager to prove himself in the IPL 2026 season. As for Pant, he will need to reflect on his captaincy and team management, and consider giving his players more freedom and trust to express themselves on the field.
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