In the Lucknow Super Giants’ first loss to the Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant moved up the order. However, the captain is unsure if he will encounter the new ball during the IPL 2026 season.
Mitchell Marsh’s straight drive was deflected by Mukesh Kumar, which resulted in Pant (7) being run out at non-striker’s end. However, the data shows that the flashy left-hander has been at his best when he has opened the innings.
He has opened 23 T20 matches, and his strike rate has been 159 with five fifties and a century.
“It’s a 50-50 call,” PTI quoted Pant as responding, when asked if he will keep opening in place of the excellent duo of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram.
Asked about his run-out, Pant said: “The best way to recover is to ignore the run-out. You can’t control something like that, but thinking about it puts you under pressure.”
Additionally, he acknowledged that following a batting collapse that essentially terminated his opportunity to play a specialist spinner in Digvesh Rathi, he was compelled to bring in all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Sub.
“We didn’t secure a partnership, so we had to use the option as an impact sub because we were a few runs short.”
Additionally, he supported the decision to send Ayush Badoni ahead of Nicholas Pooran.
“The idea was simple – he would take charge in the middle overs since I opened (on Pooran batting at 5). We had a role defined for Badoni, when we lose early wickets, that’s the time he can make a mark. There was enough with the new ball, but you can’t put the opposition under pressure. But the way the boys bowled, that’s a positive,” he said.
Pant acknowledged that LSG was harmed by 16 wides while defending 142.
“Extras hurt, but when you’re trying to defend a small score, you tend to put in the extra effort.”
Young Sameer Rizvi, who won the match with an undefeated 70 off 47 balls, was dismissed early because wickets fell early, according to DC captain Axar Patel.
“Had it been towards the end, we would have sent Ashutosh Sharma. But the way Ashu played in last season and this season Sameer, I couldn’t be happier.”
Rizvi said: “Coaches backed me throughout last season and I was told that I will bat No. 4 throughout the season come what may. When we lost four wickets, Stubbs told me not to take undue risk as ball was swinging. So plan was to hit the loose balls for boundaries.”
