Pant’s IPL 2026 Pivot: Open, Lead, and Reclaim His White-Ball Crown

 

 

Rishabh Pant for LSG vs SRH, IPL 2025
Rishabh Pant for Lucknow Super Giants (PC: IPL/BCCI)

Rishabh Pant is a man of immense talent. In red-ball cricket, he has time and again demonstrated why he is India’s best wicketkeeper-batter ever. Even MS Dhoni doesn’t really come close. But when it comes to white-ball cricket, Pant hasn’t done justice to his talent. Injuries haven’t helped, and Pant is now out of favour as far as the national team is concerned.

For him as skipper, IPL 2026 is a massive opportunity – to make a statement as a batter and leader, and yet again open the doors to the national team. In doing so, he can also give his team, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a real chance to make the play-offs.

Pant has a good team at his disposal. Despite the injury to Wanindu Hasaranga, LSG have some strong ammunition that they can unleash. Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Pant make up a fantastic top four, while Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Josh Inglis and Matt Breetzke form a more than handy middle order. Anrich Nortje headlines the overseas fast-bowling options, while Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan form a solid Indian core. Spin is an issue, with Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz Ahmed set to make the starting XI.

In all of this, the central question is: where does Pant bat? While Marsh and Markram started very well for LSG in 2025, Pant was rendered ineffective by batting in the middle order. It was only in the final game that he pushed himself up, and the century was a stark reminder of what he is capable of. The first call LSG need to take is to get Pant to open with Markram.
It will allow him to express himself in the powerplay and clear the infield. Pant has every shot, and the field restrictions will mean mishits won’t really carry to hand. It will also ensure a left-right combination at the top, with Marsh and Pooran to follow at three and four. A Markram–Marsh swap is equally acceptable, but Pant himself must be a regular feature at the top.

Big runs from Pant will augur well for his captaincy. There is a direct correlation between scoring big and captaining well. While team managements don’t always accept this, in the IPL the pressure starts to mount with a string of low scores. For Pant to be consistent, the best place for him is at the top of the order.

Can Lucknow make the play-offs? Do they have the depth? I think they can. But for it to happen, a few things need to fall into place. First, as mentioned above, Pant needs to step up. Second, the middle order, led by Pooran, needs to be consistent. Third, Nortje can’t afford to leak runs. Finally, Bharath Arun needs to work his magic and get the Indian crop of fast bowlers, led by Shami, firing. Shami will be itching to make a mark, and the IPL could be the ideal platform to do so.

If things do fall into place, it could be a standout season for Pant and, as a big supporter of the man, I would absolutely want this to happen. After all he has been through, Pant deserves success as a batter and leader.

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