Pant Accused of ‘Faking Injury’ vs KKR in T20 WC-Style Masterplan; Fans Say ‘Seen It Before’

Rishabh Pant, captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, triggered a wave of déjà vu during Tuesday’s IPL 2025 clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Social media users were quick to point out his “master plan” that played a key role in securing the team’s second straight win of the season.

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Pooran’s Power vs KKR’s Chase: A Thriller at Eden Gardens

Nicholas Pooran’s carnage at the Eden Gardens helped Lucknow set a daunting target of 239 runs as the West Indies batter smashed an unbeaten 87 off 36. But the target just seemed enough for Kolkata, who found themselves cruising through at their home ground, riding on a fiery 73-run stand for the third wicket between Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer.

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Thakur’s Chaotic Over Sparks Collapse as LSG Claws Back

After 12 overs, Kolkata stood at 149 for two, leaving them with 90 to score from the remaining 48 balls. Lucknow were running out of ideas, with Rahane and Iyer showing no mercy to any bowler. But the breakthrough came at the end of the 13th over, with Shardul Thakur dismissing Rahane in an over where he bowled 11 deliveries, owing to five consecutive wides. KKR eventually lost half their sides at strategic time-out, with LSG picking a wicket in each of the three overs that followed, leaving the asking rate to surge over 13 once again for the hosts.

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Pant Timely “Injury” Sparks Controversy, Fans Cry Déjà Vu

Fans took to social media to speculate that Rishabh Pant’s actions at the start of the 13th over disrupted KKR’s momentum. Pant suddenly clutched his back in pain, prompting concern in the LSG dugout as the physio rushed onto the field. The treatment caused a brief delay before Pant resumed playing. Many fans believed Pant “faked” the injury deliberately to break the flow of the KKR innings. They pointed out that he had used a similar tactic during the T20 World Cup final last June, just before Heinrich Klaasen’s crucial dismissal.