Sanjiv Goenka, the CEO of Lucknow Supergiants, has officially announced Rishabh Pant as the captain of LSG for their session in 2025. On Monday, January 20, Sanjiv Goenka hosted a special chat at Kolkata at around 02:30 pm where the special announcement was made. Sanjiv Goenka, while announcing Pant's name, sounded confident in his capabilities. Speaking highly on Pant's "boy next door" character, he praises Pant's passion and leadership qualities. Goenka said, “Rishabh Pant isn’t just going to be the best player of LSG but of IPL itself. Never seen someone with so much passion. He’s the boy next door; his connection with the players, teams, and thought process is different. Conventional thought processes lack uniqueness. I see him as a leader. He will probably be the best captain IPL has seen.” We had kept the budget for Pant: Goenka Speaking about Rishabh Pant, he not only was the highest but for LSG, but was the record buy in IPL, breaking the previously made record of Mitchell Starc. The auction took place in an interesting way. Initially, Lucknow's bid stood at an impressive INR 20.75 crore. However, Delhi Capitals exercised their Right to Match (RTM) option, prompting Lucknow to raise their offer to the staggering final price of INR 27 crore to acquire the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman. Earlier, there are reports where the LSG owner even though felt satisfied for having Pant in the team, felt that the amount was a bit more than obvious. However, the LSG owner clarified today, saying, “We had kept a budget of Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant. We were adamant at getting him (during the IPL Auction." Read also: LSG Squad for IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants Full Squad and Probable XI Overwhelmed Rishabh Pant watched auction with Rohit Sharma Rishabh Pant felt "overwhelmed" after Goenka announced him as the leader and recalled his anxiousness during the auction. He said, “I am overwhelmed with what the owner has said. Whenever I have talked to him, he has made me feel the same. End up feeling better with every conversation I have with Sanjiv. Such words takes your commitment from 100 to 200 percent. I kept waiting for my name (to come up for auction). Then I started getting tensed. I was watching with Rohit Sharma, but then I stopped. I had mentally made up my mind to not watch after the bid crossed Rs 15 crore. This was my first experience since I started playing IPL. The first time it happened, I was playing U-19 cricket. I was excited and nervous." About his captaincy responsibilities, Pant feels being proactive is crucial, a skill he has refined over the past couple of years to enhance communication with teammates. He acknowledges the challenge of aligning with the diverse thought processes of international players, describing it as a collaborative effort. Pant prefers percentage cricket, aiming to win 60-70% of matches rather than striving for perfection. He emphasizes focusing on the process rather than individual performances, believing it ensures team success. Regarding the hefty price tag, Pant downplays its pressure, stating that his priority remains leading the team effectively, not the money.