Former India wicketkeeper and selector Kiran More has expressed confidence that Rishabh Pant will break out of his underwhelming spell in the IPL 2026. More believes the wicketkeeper-batter’s temperament—marked by resilience and bravery—will help him bounce back strongly from a situation that, in his view, every player inevitably faces.
More’s backing comes after Pant’s tough run continued, with changes in India’s leadership group and selection plans. In Tests, KL Rahul replaced Pant as vice-captain. In the One-Day Internationals during the series against Afghanistan in June, Pant also lost the second wicketkeeper spot to Ishan Kishan.
In the IPL 2026 so far, Pant has managed 286 runs across 13 matches. Under his captaincy, Lucknow Super Giants find themselves rooted to the bottom of the points table, adding to the pressure on his form. On top of that, he drew criticism for using an expletive during live television coverage after LSG were defeated by Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
Addressing the situation, More stressed that Pant is still part of the setup and that he remains upbeat about the wicketkeeper-batter’s prospects. “No, it’s nothing like that; I am not disappointed at all. Pant is in the team, and I am very happy. He is a fighter, a player with immense courage, has a big heart, and has performed exceptionally well, winning (Test) matches single-handedly. I have worked quite closely with him, and I know him very well.”
More further added that lean periods are a normal part of cricket, and that Pant’s character has already been proven through major setbacks. “Every cricketer goes through a phase like this; you pass through such times. So I think there will definitely be a great comeback, and a strong comeback. When his life was saved and he returned to the team, he performed so well, so this (current phase) is nothing compared to that,” More said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a “rare talent”, More impressed
More also discussed Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting his early impact in the tournament. Sooryavanshi has amassed 579 runs in 13 appearances and is currently leading the run charts, supported by a strike rate of 236.32.
Describing the youngster, More called him a special talent. “No, look, he is a special player, and God has created and sent him, so I think it’s a great thing that he sent him to India. You will keep watching him, as he will score a lot of runs in the future.”
He added that even if Sooryavanshi doesn’t convert every opportunity into runs immediately, he still stands out as an exceptional prospect. “Even if he doesn’t, he is still a special player for me. But just let him play cricket freely and don’t put too much pressure on him because he’s performing so well at such an early age. I think it’s all part of that ‘wow factor,’ and I want him to play Test matches, one-day matches, and T20s whenever he makes his debut for India.”
Beyond Reach Premier League trials in Ghaziabad
More also spoke about the launch of the Beyond Reach Premier League, a competition designed for tennis-ball cricketers. Trials for the league were held under his supervision in Ghaziabad.
Explaining the idea behind the initiative, he said, “This is a special league, and we want to do something different. This was our first trial, and a lot of boys showed up for this, and we got to see some very interesting talent.”
