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‘₹50 CRORE, ONE WIN!’: FORMER CRICKETER RIPS INTO PANT AND POORAN AS LSG’S MEGA-AUCTION GIANTS CRUMBLE
LUCKNOW – The honeymoon period for the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) record-breaking “50-crore duo” has come to a crashing halt. Following another dismal performance in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, a former Indian cricketer has delivered a scathing assessment of captain Rishabh Pant and powerhouse Nicholas Pooran, questioning whether the franchise has gambled its future on overpriced assets.
The outburst comes after LSG suffered a humiliating defeat, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the points table with just a solitary win to their name.
The ‘Price Tag’ Pressure
During the 2025 Mega Auction, LSG made global headlines by splurging a combined total of nearly ₹50 crore to secure their core.
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Rishabh Pant: Signed for a record-shattering ₹27 crore to lead the side.
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Nicholas Pooran: Retained/Signed for a staggering ₹21 crore.
“You have ₹50 crore sitting in two players, and all you have to show for it is one win,” the former cricketer remarked during a post-match analysis. “When you take that kind of money, you don’t just play for yourself; you play to carry the entire team. Right now, these ‘big guns’ are firing blanks.”
A Pattern of Failure
The criticism centered on the lack of accountability during crucial run chases. In the most recent fixture, both Pant and Pooran fell to reckless shots at a time when the team needed stability.
“It’s the same story every game,” the pundit added. “Rishabh wants to play the ‘hero’ shot too early, and Pooran looks like he’s playing a different format. You cannot have your two most expensive players back in the dugout before the 10th over. This isn’t just a bad patch; it’s a lack of responsibility.”
Stats That Sting
The numbers tell a worrying story for the Lucknow faithful:
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The Strike Rate Struggle: Despite their reputations as finishers, both players have struggled to maintain a strike rate above 130 in the middle overs this season.
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The Captaincy Conundrum: Critics have pointed out that Pant’s on-field tactical decisions have been hampered by his own poor form with the bat.
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The ‘One-Win’ Reality: LSG is currently stuck with just 2 points, making their path to the playoffs increasingly steep.
Franchise Under Fire
The scathing remarks have reignited the debate over the “Mega Auction strategy.” While other teams invested in a balanced domestic core, LSG banked on individual brilliance.
“The auction is a gamble, but this looks like a disaster,” said a veteran sports analyst. “If your ₹50-crore investment doesn’t yield at least four match-winning performances a season, the team’s balance is destroyed because you have no money left for a solid bowling attack.”
The Road Ahead
With the season reaching its mid-point, the pressure on Pant and Pooran is at an all-time high. The Lucknow management, led by owner Sanjiv Goenka, is known for expecting high returns on investment, and rumors of a “tense dressing room” are already beginning to surface.
LSG faces a must-win game in their next outing. For Pant and Pooran, it is no longer just about the runs—it is about proving that they are worth the historic price tags that have become a weight around the team’s neck.
