Former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu believes Rishabh Pant is giving away his wicket too easily rather than forcing bowlers to earn it, a trend that is adding further pressure on Lucknow Super Giants in this IPL season. Sidhu pointed out that Pant’s output has been uneven, with several starts failing to convert into meaningful totals.
Quick facts
- Sidhu said Lucknow need “soul-searching” after problems have continued, especially from the top order.
- Pant’s only major highlight this season has been 68 not out versus SRH.
- Lucknow are seventh in the points table, with the top order struggling to deliver.
- Pant was dismissed for 1 in LSG’s five-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
- After being retained, Pant has 104 runs in five matches, averaging 26.00 with a strike rate of 122.35.
- Virat Kohli anchored the RCB chase and Sidhu praised Kohli’s run-scoring impact.
Speaking on Star Sports about Pant and Lucknow, Sidhu said the issues have lingered and that the franchise has leaned heavily on its leading trio, yet the expected returns have not arrived. He also suggested that while there is plenty of talent in the group—naming Markram, Pooran, Marsh and Pant—the batting partnerships are not forming often enough to change games.
Sidhu further argued that wicket-taking may not be the problem for opponents as much as Pant’s own decision-making. In his view, bowlers aren’t consistently getting Pant out; instead, Pant is getting himself dismissed. Sidhu insisted that if the wicketkeeper-batter spends more time at the crease, he can reverse the current pattern and regain control of his innings.
LSG’s position and Pant’s numbers
Lucknow currently sit seventh in the points standings, with their top-order performances described as misfiring throughout the campaign. Sidhu highlighted how even a fifty-run opening stand has been a rarity, underlining the difficulty the team has faced in building early momentum.
In the match on Wednesday in Bengaluru, Pant was dismissed for 1 as Lucknow suffered a five-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Retained by the franchise ahead of the season, Pant has had a difficult stretch for consistency, accumulating 104 runs across five games with an average of 26.00 and a strike rate of 122.35.
Sidhu contrasted that with the impact of RCB’s talisman Virat Kohli, who anchored the chase with a composed innings and continued a strong run of form. He said Kohli’s influence is not only about scoring, but also about how he shapes pressure and control during an innings.
In Sidhu’s assessment, Kohli’s ability to remain effective even without being at his physical best is a major reason for his consistency. He compared Kohli’s impact to that of most players, saying that even when Kohli is not fully at his peak, he still delivers at a level that stands out in the league.
Kohli vs Shami praised
Sidhu also praised Kohli’s shot-making during the chase, calling attention to the way he handled Mohammed Shami. He pointed to Kohli’s movement on the front foot, his drives through cover, and the fluent pulls and cuts that helped him dominate the contest.
Sidhu ended by stressing that the execution of those strokes—despite spending nearly two decades at the top level—illustrates why Kohli remains crucial to the IPL. For Sidhu, the combination of timing, temperament and technique is exactly what keeps Kohli indispensable in T20 cricket.
