Rishabh Pant‘s stint with Lucknow Super Giants ended after only two IPL seasons, despite the franchise breaking the auction record to sign the India wicketkeeper-batter.LSG spent ₹27.4 crore on Pant at the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him the most expensive player in the history of the tournament at the time. However, the move did not produce the desired results as LSG finished seventh in 2025 and slipped to 10th in 2026.Pant’s individual returns were also below expectations. Across 28 matches for the franchise, he scored 581 runs over the two seasons.Following the completion of IPL 2026, LSG confirmed that Pant and the franchise had mutually agreed to end their association. Despite the premature conclusion to what was a record-breaking deal, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka said his relationship with Pant remained warm.Speaking on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast, Goenka revealed that his conversations with Pant continued even after the contract came to an end. He also disclosed that the two have plans to meet for dinner.“I said good luck and best wishes, but our last conversation wasn’t only till the contract. We even spoke after that. We have planned to have dinner together sometime. I’m very fond of Rishabh. He has innocence. We will jump out of anywhere and grab you. He will play a prank or something,” he said.The decision to let Pant go came after two difficult seasons for LSG, with the franchise unable to replicate the success of its earlier campaigns. Given the enormous price tag attached to his signing, Pant’s departure after just two years inevitably raised questions about the investment.There had also been speculation about friction between Goenka and Pant during their time together. At one point, tense visuals involving the two surfaced after a match, prompting comparisons with Goenka’s much-discussed on-field exchange with former LSG captain KL Rahul.Goenka, however, pushed back against the perception that he is overly stern and said his relationship with Pant had always been good.Reflecting on the record purchase, he stressed that judging the value of such a deal ultimately depends on the outcome and the circumstances surrounding it.“It’s all very subjective and situation-based. When we paid ₹15 crore for Ben Stokes, it was considered expensive. Was it worth it or not? If you succeed, it pays off. If not, it doesn’t. Rishabh Pant obviously packs a punch. I have always shared a good relationship with Rishabh. People said a lot of things,” he added.After leaving LSG, Pant made his way back to his former franchise Delhi Capitals. His return came at ₹12 crore, meaning the wicketkeeper-batter took a substantial pay cut from the ₹27.4 crore that LSG had paid for him at the 2025 mega auction.LSG, meanwhile, used the opportunity to bring in India wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav as Pant’s replacement in their squad.
