• Source:JND

A year and a half after calling Rishabh Pant “stupid” for his shot selection during the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has now backed the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain over the controversy surrounding his “We’re a f**** good team” comment during a post-match interview.

Sunil Gavaskar backs Rishabh Pant

Former West Indies cricketer and commentator Ian Bishop had apologised on air after Pant used the F-word. However, Gavaskar believes the real issue lies in how quickly broadcasters interview captains after a defeat. According to him, emotions are naturally high, especially after a tough loss.

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“Rishabh Pant dropping the ‘F’ word in his post-game interview does make one wonder whether it is necessary to interview the captain whose team has just lost the game barely minutes earlier. If it’s been a last-over finish, then the disappointment for the captain would be even greater and if he is also the wicketkeeper who has been running up and down to the stumps every other delivery and that too in this heat, then it can add to his frustration,” Gavaskar wrote in Mid-Day.

Gavaskar's advice to broadcasters

He further suggested that broadcasters should first interview the Player of the Match from the winning side and allow the losing captain some time to calm down before speaking on camera.

“It might be a better idea to speak to the ‘player of the match’ from the winning team and give the captain of the losing team a little time to splash some water on his face and regain his composure and then come over for an interview. As it is, there will be a bit of time for the presentation party to be ready, so giving the captain of the team that has lost, a few more minutes could well ensure that such things won’t happen.”

Rishabh Pant criticised

Pant has faced heavy criticism this season, especially after being bought for Rs 27 crore. Expectations were high, but LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs under his leadership for the second straight season.

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Gavaskar also pointed out that international cricket usually gives captains some time after matches before interviews begin. He feels the IPL should adopt a similar approach to avoid such incidents in the future.

“Rishabh Pant is one of the most cheerful guys in the game who loves playing the sport in his own unique way. And the fact that even he lost it does make the case for the losing team’s captain to be given a few more minutes to recover his thoughts rather than have the mic shoved in his face even before he has had time to get his breath back.

“Is that too much to ask?” he opined.

Pant to lead LSG in IPL 2027?

Meanwhile, Pant’s future as LSG captain has also come under scrutiny after the team finished at the bottom of the table. They ended the season with 10 losses. In their final match, they were beaten by Punjab Kings after Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten century in a successful chase.

Following the defeat, LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody hinted that changes could be made within the team, including leadership decisions.

Pant’s batting numbers over the last two seasons have also been underwhelming. In 26 innings, he has scored 581 runs at an average of 26.40 and a strike rate of 135.74, including one century and two fifties.


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