excitement all around Indian Premier League (IPL) As the 2026 season approaches, it’s already reaching fever pitch. With franchises finalizing strategies and fans eagerly awaiting the opening games, the focus has shifted to the star players who can shape the tournament. Every IPL season brings huge expectations, especially for the high-profile players and captains who carry the expectations of their teams. With the spotlight of big contracts, leadership responsibilities, and millions of fans, pressure becomes an inevitable part of the competition.
IPL 2026 promises to deliver another exciting chapter in the history of the league. There are many young talents ready to make their mark, while the established stars will once again aim to dominate the tournament. However, with expectations also comes responsibility and some players will face more scrutiny than others as they look to prove their value to their franchise. According to former South African captain Faf du Plessis, One particular player will carry the heaviest burden in the new season.
Faf du Plessis chose a player who will be under a lot of pressure in IPL 2026
During a discussion on Star Sports, Du Plessis shared his views on which cricketer could be under the most pressure in IPL 2026. Rishabh PantWho leads Lucknow Super Giants.
Du Plessis pointed out that Pant faces a unique challenge as he will have to perform well both as a batsman and as a captain. According to him, expectations from Pant have increased due to his leadership role and the price-tag pressure that often accompanies star players in the IPL. He said some players thrive under the pressure of huge expectations, while others struggle to find rhythm when thrust into the spotlight.
“For me, he is probably the player in the IPL who is under the most pressure this season. We always talk about price-tag pressure. Some guys thrive under that price-tag pressure, and some guys don’t. Last season was a really tough season for him. The team struggled and his runs also struggled, the way he batted.” Du Plessis said.
The former South Africa captain also pointed out that Lucknow faced a tough campaign in IPL 2025, which has further increased the responsibility on Pant’s shoulders. The franchise finished seventh in the points table and failed to qualify for the playoffs, making the upcoming season crucial for both the captain and the team.
“So when he comes into this season there is all the pressure, and expectations about what the team is going to do. With a heavy batting team, how are they going to maximize the bowling? If he is scoring runs as a captain, it takes the pressure off you in the first instance, but then the second instance is the team, and last year, they both had big red crosses on their names,” Added the former South African captain.
Lucknow will begin their IPL 2026 journey with a home encounter against Delhi Capitals on April 1, a match that will immediately focus on Pant’s leadership.
Also read: IPL 2026: BCCI announces first phase schedule; RCB will face SRH in the opening match
There are a lot of expectations from the star wicketkeeper batsman
Pant’s individual performance last season also contributed to the pressure around him. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman scored 269 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.45 during IPL 2025, a number that was below the standard fans expected from him.
The season proved to be challenging for the player known for his explosive batting and fearless approach. The struggles with the bat have coincided with Lucknow’s inconsistent results, making this a campaign the team would prefer to forget.
However, Pant finished the season on a high note with a brilliant unbeaten inning of 118 runs off 61 balls Royal Challengers Bangalore In the last league match. That innings reminded fans of his match-winning ability and offered a glimpse of what he can achieve when he is in form.
As IPL 2026 is approaching, expectations from Pant are sky high. Supporters of the Lucknow franchise will be hoping that their captain regains his best form and leads the team with confidence.
Also read: Sanjay Bangar announces his Punjab Kings playing XI for IPL 2026
