Lucknow Super Giants begin their IPL 2026 campaign on Wednesday, with the spotlight firmly on captain Rishabh Pant as he takes on his former side Delhi Capitals. The contest carries added intrigue given Pant’s high-profile move last season, when he was signed for a record INR 27 crore. Expectations were sky-high, but his first year in Lucknow colours didn’t quite go to plan.
Pant finished with 269 runs across the season, though nearly half of that came in one unbeaten knock of 118, highlighting the lack of consistency in his outings. His strike rate of 133.17, while decent on paper, didn’t quite deliver the impact usually associated with his aggressive style. There were several starts that didn’t convert, and phases where he struggled to find rhythm, leaving plenty for him to prove this time around.
LSG head coach Justin Langer kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the clash, refusing to reveal where Pant will slot in the batting order against his former side, insisting Delhi Capitals will have to wait like everyone else.
“I’m not telling you. Well, the truth is, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you where Rishabh Pant’s gonna bat tomorrow. I appreciate you asking, but if you want a straight answer, I’m not telling you where he’s gonna bat tomorrow because then DC knows where he’s gonna bat, and then they’ll have to deal with it tonight, not tomorrow at 7:30. Thanks for asking, though, you’ll wait and see like everyone else,” said Langer in the pre-match press conference.
“Rishabh Pant is at his best”
The LSG coach further backed Pant to thrive under pressure, highlighting his aggressive mindset while pointing to the fierce competition in India’s white-ball setup, where consistent performances remain key to standing out.
“Well, Rishabh Pant is at his best. He is smiling, he is competitive, throwing punches and being aggressive. You all saw that game (against RCB) last year, that was brilliant. But Rishabh knows, just like every other Indian player (of competition in white-ball sides). India just won a World Cup. Try being an Indian selector or a coach, you could have three international teams. So every player, whether someone experienced like Pant or the youngster who played for Rajasthan last night (Vaibhav Suryavanshi), that they are pushing to be selected. There is pressure, and that is good. The diamonds will rise. He is batting well, he has got amazing people around him to support him and bring the best out of him,” he added.
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