Play For At Least 14-15 Years : Sanjiv Goenka Sets High Expectations For Rishabh Pant
The star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was announced as the new captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season on Monday. LSG bought Pant for a whopping amount of Rs 27 crores, making him the most expensive player in the history of the IPL. He had earlier captained Delhi Capitals and now will be seen leading LSG in IPL 2025, taking over KL Rahul, who is now with his former franchise, Delhi Capitals.
The 27-year-old was announced as a skipper in an event held in Kolkata in the presence of LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and the mentor of the team, Zaheer Khan, who planned a celebration for him on getting associated with the franchise.
"Pant will play for at least 14-15 years" - Sanjiv Goenka
Sanjiv Goenka said that he expects Pant to play for LSG for at least 14-15 years and win a minimum of five titles in these years.
"Surely Rishabh Pant will play for at least 14-15 years for us; we hope for at least five IPL titles in these years."
"After 10 years people will say Rishabh is the best" - Sanjiv Goenka
Goenka also said that after 10 years people will be saying that Mahi, Rohit, and Rishabh are the most successful players. According to him, with the time, Pant will prove that he is the best player in the IPL.
"People say MI and CSK are the most successful. Mahi and Rohit are undeniably brilliant. Mark my words, after 10 years, people will say, Mahi, Rohit, and Rishabh."
"In my belief, time will prove that he is not only the most successful player of the IPL, but he is going to be the best player of the IPL. I haven't seen players with that kind of passion and hunger to win."
The LSG owner is quite famous for his strict nature with players. In recent times he got a lot of criticism for misbehaving with LSG's former skipper KL Rahul on the field after a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024. The thing did not stop here; in 2017, he removed the legendary player MS Dhoni from the captaincy of the Rising Pune Supergiants.