Next IPL season might see lucknow Super Giants’ skipper Rishabh Pant stepping into the third spot. His role there could define things – perhaps even decide if he lives up to being the priciest buy ever in the tournament, says PTI. A single hundred aside, last year offered little else of note from him. All eyes turn sharper now, given the 27-crore price tag hanging heavy
Pant once featured regularly in India’s Test team, yet saw his T20 spot fade following their 2024 World Cup victory. Though still a reserve keeper in ODIs, stronger competition now exists. Since Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have become go-to choices, standing out during the IPL feels necessary. Without a strong showing there, staying visible in T20 cricket might prove difficult
One hundred runs came off Pant’s bat while batting third in the lineup twelve months back
That time around, Pant mostly played at four though slotting into three came too late to shift Lucknow’s path. Scoring his latest IPL hundred, he stood tall at three versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With him climbing higher now, Pooran finds himself dropping back – middle placements shifting when needed. Up front, it’s settled: Markram, Marsh, and Pant hold those spots tight. Behind them sit Pooran, Badoni, Samad, plus Shabaz Ahmed ready mid-innings.
Pant finds himself aligned with LSG’s support team over where he should bat. Their views match without needing much talk. Where he stands in the lineup? Both sides see it the same way. Agreement came quietly, not forced. No debate needed – just shared understanding. Position-wise, minds are already settled.
“It is clear to the team management as well as Pant that his game is best suited for number three. This season the top-order is locked in with Aiden, Marsh and Pant. The middle-order is flexible and players will be floated as per the game situation,” an IPL source told PTI.
LSG’s bowling needs to brush off last year’s horror
Out of luck last year, LSG’s bowlers faced hurdles when Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan got hurt. With both out, Avesh Khan stepped up alongside Anrich Nortje to carry the quicks. Now that Mayank has recovered, things look different. Still, finding the right mix remains a task they’re shaping slowly.
“The batting is settled. The bowling group looks a lot better than last year, but the combinations are yet to be worked out. Mayank is fit but needs to bowl a lot more in the nets. Hopefully, he will repay the faith the team has shown him over the past four to five years,” the source added.
Pant might face the toughest moment, thinks Faf du Plessis
Meanwhile, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis highlighted Pant as the player under the most scrutiny, noting the dual burden of leading a batting-heavy side and performing individually. “For me, Rishabh Pant is probably the player in the IPL, who is under the most pressure this season. Some guys flourish under the pressure of the price tag, while some don’t. I think last season was a really tough one for him. The team struggled, and he also struggled with runs in the way that he batted,” Du Plessis told Jio Star.
Now imagine the weight pressing down as the season begins, mixed with loud hopes about what the squad might achieve. A lineup stacked with strong hitters brings its own puzzle – how does the attack hold up under strain? When leadership rests heavily on one player, putting runs on the board becomes his main task. Should he start filling the scoreboard early, some tension slips away right at the beginning. Still, another factor matters just as much – how the whole group does together. Last season, neither side looked good at all,” he said.
