Rishabh Pant, the trailblazing wicketkeeper, has been appointed as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the franchise announced on Monday.
The 27-year-old, who made history during the IPL auction in November by being sold to Lucknow for Rs 27 crores ($3.2 million), joins the team for the upcoming edition of the lucrative T20 tournament.
Pant, known for his flamboyant left-handed batting, returned to captain Delhi Capitals last season after a 14-month hiatus from elite cricket due to a car accident. However, he parted ways with the Capitals after the team finished sixth in the 2024 IPL season standings.
"I see a born leader in Rishabh Pant. From my point of view, he will be probably the best captain IPL has seen," said Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow, during a special TV broadcast. "Surely Rishabh Pant will play for at least 14-15 years for us, we hope at least five IPL titles in these years."
Pant has represented India in 150 international matches across all three formats, amassing 5,028 runs, including seven centuries.
The 18th edition of the IPL is set to commence on March 21, with the opening match scheduled to be held in Kolkata, while the final will take place on May 25, according to reports from Indian media.
The IPL continues to be a major revenue generator for Indian cricket, contributing more than $11 billion annually to the economy. It has also played a pivotal role in popularizing T20 cricket globally, inspiring similar events worldwide.