In the final league stage match of IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant delivered a stellar batting performance. He played a powerful unbeaten innings of 118 runs against RCB, but this time, his post-match celebrations weren't the focus; instead, it was the hefty fine imposed on him by the BCCI. Let's find out why Pant had to pay such a large fine and what transpired during the match.
Why was Rishabh Pant fined?
The BCCI fined Lucknow Super Giants and Rishabh Pant for maintaining a slow over rate. In the IPL, the bowling team must complete a certain number of overs within a stipulated time. If the team exceeds this time limit, it is deemed guilty of a slow over rate.
This was Lucknow's third offense of this nature this season, resulting in a ₹30 lakh fine for captain Rishabh Pant. Additionally, the remaining players were fined 50 percent of their match fees or ₹12 lakh, whichever was less.
Pant's Innings Record and Team's Position
This century was Pant's best performance of the season. Prior to this match, he had only scored 151 runs throughout IPL 2025. His 118 runs in this match propelled LSG's score to 227, a b total.
However, LSG failed to defend this large score and lost the match. Pant scored a total of 269 runs in 14 matches throughout the season, falling short of expectations considering his hefty price tag of ₹27 crore. The team also missed out on the playoffs.
RCB Captain Jitesh Sharma's Crucial Role in the Victory
RCB captain Jitesh Sharma exhibited exceptional batting prowess in this match, scoring 85 runs off just 33 balls. His innings included six sixes and eight fours, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Virat Kohli also provided a good start, scoring 54 runs, while Mayank Agarwal contributed a crucial 41-run innings. These performances enabled RCB to win their final league match and secure second place in the points table.
BCCI's Strict Stance on Slow Over Rates
Time constraints are crucial in the IPL to ensure matches finish on time and maintain audience engagement. The BCCI has decided to take b action against teams violating this rule. This led to the significant fine imposed on Pant and the LSG team.
