The ongoing Tata Indian Premier League 2026 (Tata IPL 2026) has been a tough one so far for both Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and their captain Rishabh Pant. With five defeats in seven matches so far this season, the pressure is mounting on Rishabh Pant.
LSG’s story looks similar to last season, where despite being a strong team on paper, both Pant’s form with the bat and the team’s results were disappointing.
RR beats LSG in IPL 2026, Rishabh Pant fails again
Pant is known for his aggressive style, but he has not been able to play big innings for the franchise. Their recent 40-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals has made things worse for both Pant and Lucknow Super Giants.
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Chasing 160, LSG failed to handle the pressure and were all out for just 119 runs, with Pant being out for a duck in three balls. Nandre Burger. This left-handed batsman has so far been able to score only 147 runs in seven matches.
After yet another failure, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim launched a scathing attack on the LSG captain. Karim took a strong dig at Pant, saying that he is still figuring out how to bat in white-ball cricket.
Rishabh Pant has not found his form in T20 yet: Saba Karim
The former Indian selector has pointed out that Pant seems to be more clear in his thinking and plays with better control in Tests, but he seems unsure of his game plan in T20s and ODIs.
“The modern T20 batsman has to find his own template – whether it’s Shreyas Iyer or Rajat Patidar. If Rajat Patidar goes to bat on a track like this, he has clarity in his mind that he will go and play big shots, and he is confident in doing that. That’s how he practices,” Saba Karim said on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time Out Show.
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The former BCCI official further added, “Rishabh Pant’s problem lies in the fact that he has not yet found his template in white-ball cricket. I am not only talking about T20 but ODI as well. There is more transparency when batting in a Test match, in his thought process, in the way he prepares. Somehow, in white-ball cricket, he has not found that yet.”
Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer are putting pressure on Rishabh Pant: Faf du Plessis
Meanwhile, former South African captain Faf du Plessis Also shared his views on Pant’s struggles in the tournament. The former RCB and CSK icon feels for the LSG captain as he believes that as a captain, LSG is feeling extra pressure and that is the main reason for his struggles.
Du Plessis has pointed out that captains like Rajat Patidar and Shreyas Iyer are moving forward with aggressive batting this season, and Pant may be forced to play risky shots more often to match the style of other captains this season.
Faf du Plessis said during the same discussion, “A lot of captains of teams are talking about how aggressive you should be, how you should take the game forward. As a captain, you feel the onus is on you to demonstrate that. Rajat Patidar is leading the way for RCB; so is Shreyas Iyer for PBKS. The captain sets the tone. So, you can’t blame Pant for thinking, ‘Me too. This is what needs to be done’.”