Ex-India Cricketer Comments On Rishabh Pant’s IPL 2026 Captaincy Struggles

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant has come under renewed scrutiny after another underwhelming Indian Premier League season, with former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji suggesting that the batter’s inconsistent performances are linked to his unsettled batting position within the team.

Pant, who was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a record ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history, has struggled to justify his price tag across two seasons. His returns have remained modest, with 269 runs in IPL 2025 and 286 runs in 13 matches in the current season, as the franchise is set to finish in the lower half of the points table once again.

Balaji, speaking on a television sports broadcast, said Pant’s struggles are being compounded by frequent changes in his batting role. According to him, the left-hander has been shuffled across positions—from opening to No. 3 and into the middle order—preventing him from settling into a defined role and rhythm within the batting lineup.

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He further suggested that the team should reconsider Pant’s batting position entirely, arguing that he is most effective in the middle order where he has historically performed better. Balaji also pointed out that Pant’s strike rate issues in the top order stem from the need to take early risks, which does not align well with his natural game.

The former fast bowler proposed a more specific tactical adjustment, recommending that Pant bat later in the innings, ideally after the 14th over, to allow him to operate in a freer environment against set bowling attacks. He argued that such a role would enable the batter to play his natural attacking shots without the pressure of early innings stability.

Despite the tactical suggestions, Balaji also acknowledged that Pant’s situation reflects a broader challenge for Lucknow Super Giants, which has struggled with consistent team balance and underwhelming performances across multiple seasons. The franchise’s inability to find a stable batting structure has, according to analysts, contributed to both individual and collective underperformance.

With back-to-back difficult seasons and growing questions around his leadership and batting output, Pant’s role within the team is likely to remain a key talking point as the franchise looks to reassess its strategy ahead of the next IPL cycle.

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