Kiran More Confident: Rishabh Pant Set for Massive IPL 2026 Comeback
Kiran More predicts strong Rishabh Pant comeback in IPL 2026.
Former India wicketkeeper and chief selector Kiran More has backed Rishabh Pant to bounce back strongly from his poor run of form in IPL 2026, saying the wicketkeeper-batter possesses the resilience and courage required to overcome difficult phases in his career. More said every cricketer experiences lean patches and expressed confidence that Pant would return stronger in the future.
Pant has endured a disappointing IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, scoring just 286 runs in 13 matches while leading the franchise to the bottom of the points table. His struggles have also coincided with setbacks in international cricket, including being replaced by KL Rahul as India’s vice-captain in Test cricket and reportedly losing the second wicketkeeper slot in the ODI squad to Ishan Kishan for the upcoming series against Afghanistan.
Speaking about Pant’s recent form, More said he remained fully supportive of the player and dismissed suggestions of disappointment. The former selector described Pant as a fighter with a “big heart” who had previously delivered match-winning performances for India in Test cricket. More also referred to Pant’s remarkable comeback after surviving a life-threatening car accident, saying the current phase was minor compared to the challenges he had already overcome in his career.
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More also praised young Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has emerged as one of the standout performers of IPL 2026. The youngster has scored 579 runs in 13 matches and currently leads the tournament’s run-scoring charts with a strike rate exceeding 236. More described him as a “special player” and urged people not to burden him with excessive expectations at such an early stage of his career.
According to More, Sooryavanshi possesses the talent to succeed across formats and could eventually represent India in Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals. However, he stressed the importance of allowing the batter to develop naturally without placing undue pressure on him due to his rapid rise and early success in the IPL.
More was speaking during the launch of the Beyond Reach Premier League, a tournament focused on tennis-ball cricketers, where player trials were held under his supervision in Ghaziabad. He said the initiative aimed to identify and promote grassroots talent, adding that several promising players had already emerged during the first round of selections.
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