'Call Dhoni, watch old videos': Virender Sehwag's advice to out-of-form Rishabh Pant after LSG's sixth defeat

NEW DELHI: As Rishabh Pant's dismal IPL 2025 campaign continued with yet another low score, former India opener Virender Sehwag has offered the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper some heartfelt advice — reconnect with his old self and consider speaking to his mentor and idol, MS Dhoni, to regain clarity and confidence.
Pant, who managed just 18 off 17 balls in a steep 237-run chase against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday, has now scored only 128 runs in 10 innings this season at a worrying strike rate of 99.22. This is his worst IPL season since debuting in 2016, and it comes after being picked for a record Rs 27 crore at last year's mega auction.
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Following LSG's 37-run loss at the HPCA Stadium — a result that leaves them in a must-win situation for their remaining three league games to stay in playoff contention — Sehwag, speaking on Cricbuzz, urged Pant to look inward.
Who's that IPL player?
“He should watch his batting, watch the videos in which he has scored runs in the IPL,” Sehwag said. “Watching gives you confidence — how you used to hit shots, build innings. We have seen two different Rishabh Pants — before the injury and after. He has lost that dominance.”

Sehwag emphasised the importance of consistency in routine — a subtle but often overlooked aspect of a player's success. “When there is a disturbance in routine, it affects you. You start thinking only about batting and not your process. Don't cut down on practice, gym, running, or sleep. These are vital.”
But perhaps the most significant part of Sehwag's suggestion was a mental and emotional one: “Pick up the phone, talk to someone. If you consider Dhoni your role model, call him. Sometimes there's a lot of doubt in the mind. Let it out.”

Pant's journey back to form may well lie not just in technique but in reflection, rediscovery — and a conversation with someone who's been there before. Whether he takes Sehwag's advice could shape both his own IPL narrative and LSG's playoff hopes in the coming weeks.