[Watch] “Captain Should Support, Not Demotivate His Player” – R Ashwin Blasts Rishabh Pant for Taking Back Appeal
R Ashwin slammed Rishabh Pant for taking back the run-out appeal, saying it demotivated bowler Digvesh Rathi in front of everyone.
The final league match of IPL 2025 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had everything records, drama, and controversy. Played at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, RCB pulled off one of the greatest run-chases in IPL history, gunning down a huge target of 230 with eight balls to spare.
While LSG skipper Rishabh Pant struck a sensational 118* off 54 balls to help his team post 229/3, the effort went in vain as Jitesh Sharma played a blinder. The RCB stand-in captain smashed 85* off just 33 balls, taking his team into Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings.
Rishabh Pant Takes Back Run-Out Appeal
One major moment that caught everyone’s attention came in the 17th over. Jitesh Sharma, who was batting on 49, was almost run out at the non-striker’s end. Digvesh Rathi stopped in his bowling stride and tried to ‘mankad’ Jitesh for leaving the crease early.
However, the big screen flashed “Not Out” as Rishabh Pant decided to withdraw the appeal. The gesture won praise on social media for showing the “Spirit of the Game.” Even Jitesh hugged Pant after the moment, showing mutual respect.
Ashwin Slams Pant’s Decision
While many appreciated Pant’s sportsmanship, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin strongly disagreed. In a recent YouTube video, Ashwin criticised Pant for taking back the appeal. He said that by doing this, Pant demotivated his bowler Digvesh Rathi in front of millions watching.
Ashwin, who has always supported running out the non-striker if they leave the crease early, added that a captain’s role is to back his players not let them down. According to him, withdrawing the appeal was not the right call in a pressure game like this.
RCB Storm Into Qualifier 1
Despite Pant’s hundred and LSG’s big total, RCB chased it down with ease. Jitesh Sharma and Mayank Agarwal (41* off 23) stitched an unbeaten 107-run partnership to seal the win. Bengaluru will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, while LSG’s season ends in heartbreak.
