Former Indian legend backs Rishabh Pant after LSG skipper dropped F-Bomb on live TV

A Challenging Season for Rishabh Pant

The 2026 Indian Premier League season was undoubtedly one to forget for the Lucknow Super Giants. Finishing at the bottom of the points table with a mere eight points from 14 matches, the franchise struggled to find momentum. Leading the charge during this tumultuous period was wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who found himself under intense scrutiny both for the team’s performance and a recent incident that grabbed headlines across the cricketing world.

Following a loss to the Rajasthan Royals, an emotionally charged Pant participated in a mandatory post-match interview with former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop. When questioned about the team’s struggles throughout the season, the 28-year-old Lucknow captain expressed his frustration with a lapse in judgment, stating: “Despite everything that happened, we are a good team. Things haven’t gone our way this season, but it cannot change the fact that we are a F****** good team.” The expletive, broadcast live to millions of viewers, forced an immediate apology from Bishop to the audience.

Sunil Gavaskar Defends the Young Skipper

In the wake of the controversy, the cricket community has been divided, but legendary former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has stepped forward to support the young star. Writing in his column for Mid-Day, the 76-year-old icon argued that the blame should not rest solely on the player’s shoulders. Gavaskar questioned the necessity of interviewing a losing captain while emotions are still raw, especially immediately after the conclusion of a match.

Gavaskar highlighted the physical and mental toll of the game, noting that Pant had been keeping wickets in sweltering heat for the duration of the match. According to the veteran, this physical exhaustion, combined with the sting of defeat, creates a volatile environment where patience is easily tested. By forcing a player into an interview seconds after the final ball, broadcasters may be inadvertently setting them up for such public gaffes.

Reevaluating Post-Match Protocols

The sentiment expressed by Gavaskar is echoed by other voices within the game. The former World Cup winner described the Indian wicketkeeper as a naturally “cheerful” player who approaches the game with joy and passion. Seeing such a character lose his cool is an indication of the immense pressure inherent in leadership roles within the IPL.

The veteran commentator and former player proposed a shift in how media interactions are handled. He suggested that, rather than cornering the losing captain, broadcasters might consider interviewing the Player of the Match instead. This alternative would allow the losing captain time to decompress, cool down, and process the result before facing the media.

By implementing such a “cooling-off” period, the sport could ensure that captains are in a better headspace to provide insightful answers, thereby avoiding unnecessary controversies. As the cricket fraternity reflects on this incident, the focus remains on finding a balance between the demands of modern broadcasting and the human element of the athletes who perform on the field.

Ultimately, while the language used was regrettable, the underlying message from Pant remains clear: he retains belief in his squad despite a difficult campaign. Whether or not this incident leads to a change in post-match procedures remains to be seen, but the backing from a legend like Gavaskar will certainly go a long way in helping the young captain move forward from this challenging chapter.