When Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) went all out and shelled out a record-shattering INR 27 crore to buy Rishabh Pant at the IPL 2025 auction, several eyebrows were raised, actually. The jaw-dropping price tag made him the most expensive player in IPL history. The man hadn’t been in top form, and his shot selection had come under heavy fire. Whispers of whether he was worth it grew louder as the tourney progressed.
Meanwhile, during the recently concluded clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Rishabh Pant didn’t just play a knock. He scripted a spectacle that was one to remember.
Rishabh Pant does a somersault celebration after his century against RCB
With the crowd behind him and the critics watching, Pant showcased his true colours. He unleashed a 54-ball hundred that was as daring as it was dazzling. Once he reached the milestone, he gave fans an epic celebration. He pulled off a somersault right on the pitch, and the video clip of the same has gone viral on social media.
🚨 COLDEST CELEBRATION IN IPL 2025 BY RISHABH PANT 🚨
– The main man is Back…!!!! pic.twitter.com/cAOQtvPfa7
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 27, 2025
In a world where headlines are rewritten every match, Rishabh Pant chose to write his own story, and he did it with a flip, literally. This was Pant’s second IPL hundred and his first since 2018, a wait of seven long years. But it was worth every second.
He powered through to a majestic 118 off 61 balls. The left-hander constructed his innings with the help of 11 fours and 8 hits over the fence. With Pant leading the charge and Mitchell Marsh contributing a solid 67 off 37, LSG posted a mammoth 227 for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted quota of 20 overs.
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But cricket has a way of throwing surprises. RCB responded pretty strongly in the run chase. Virat Kohli scored 54 off 30 balls, whereas Philip Salt scored 20 off 19 at the top, which set the tone for the team.
Jitesh Sharma changed the complexion of the game with an unbeaten 85 off just 33 deliveries, at a strike rate of 257.58. He smashed as many as 8 fours and 6 sixes and ensured RCB chased down the target in just 18.4 overs. RCB sealed a six-wicket win and topped the group table in style.
