New Delhi (India), March 17 : Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to begin a new phase of his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he captains the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. With the enormous pressure of being the most expensive player at Rs 27 crore, Pant’s journey will not only be pivotal for his IPL future but also for his hopes of reviving his T20I career with India.
Pant, who has represented Delhi Capitals (DC) for his entire IPL career since 2016, has amassed 3,284 runs in 110 matches at an average of 35.31, including a century and 18 fifties. He was appointed DC’s captain in 2021, leading the team to the playoffs that season. However, in the 2024 mega auction, Pant was let go by DC and became the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG acquired him for Rs 27 crore and appointed him as their captain.
This transition to LSG comes at a crucial point in Pant’s career, as he hasn’t played a T20I since July of the previous year. Known for his explosive and unorthodox strokes, Pant gained fame with his performances in the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup and the IPL seasons of 2017 and 2018. However, his T20I career has not met the high expectations, as he has struggled to find consistency, averaging just 23 in T20Is with a strike rate below 130 and only three fifties after 75 matches. With rising young talent in the Indian team, Pant must act quickly to re-establish himself in the T20I setup.
The key question for Pant and LSG this season is his batting position. LSG boasts an impressive lineup of overseas batters, including Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller. Alongside them, Pant and Ayush Badoni complete an already strong top six. However, none of these players are specialist openers. Pooran and Marsh have had significant experience in the top three, with Markram and Pant opening occasionally in the past, but not consistently.
Despite having limited opportunities as an opener, Pant has the best numbers among the potential openers, averaging 32.2 and striking at 162.2 when opening the innings. His strike rate and average as an opener are superior compared to his performance at number three, four, or five, where his strike rates dip slightly. Pant’s aggressive style of play, particularly during the powerplay with field restrictions in place, might suit an opening role and could benefit LSG’s batting lineup.
Pant himself has expressed uncertainty about his role, acknowledging the temptation to open but stressing that he prefers to make decisions carefully, discussing them with LSG mentors Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer. He emphasized, “I don’t want to make rash decisions… this is my career, and I want to think over it a bit more.”
Pant’s leadership, batting position, and role within LSG will be key to the team’s success and could also determine his future in India’s T20 setup. With a heavy burden of expectations resting on his shoulders, Pant will look to make a mark in the upcoming IPL season.