New Delhi [India] - May 22: Rishabh Pant, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has responded to rumors regarding his potential departure from the team following a disappointing performance in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

As LSG faced a critical match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Ekana Stadium, their playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. A win was essential to keep their chances alive, while a loss would mean an early exit from the tournament.

Unfortunately for the Super Giants, they were outplayed, and their IPL journey concluded on a sour note as Sunrisers successfully chased down a target of 206 runs, winning by six wickets.

Amidst the backlash, Pant's performance mirrored the team's struggles. Following LSG's elimination, speculation arose about the franchise's plans to release their high-profile player, who was signed for a whopping Rs 27 crore.

Pant dismissed these claims as "fake news" in a straightforward response on X, stating, "I understand fake news generates more attention. However, let’s not base everything on it. A little sense and credible news would be more beneficial than spreading fake news with an agenda. Thank you, and have a good day. Let’s be responsible and sensible about what we share on social media."

This IPL season was expected to be a fresh start for Pant after he was left out of India's ODI lineup during their victorious Champions Trophy campaign. However, the 27-year-old struggled throughout the season.

In 12 matches, Pant managed to score only 135 runs at a disappointing average of 12.27, with a strike rate barely reaching 100. In the crucial match for Lucknow, he was dismissed for just 7 runs off 6 balls, returning the ball directly to Eshan Malinga.

His best performance this season came against the struggling Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 63 runs off 49 balls.