Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant is enduring a tough spell with the bat in the Indian Premier League 2026. In a match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed for 15 runs from 12 balls after a Jamie Overton delivery found the inside edge and hit the stumps. Overton released a good-length ball that angled away, and when Pant attempted to steer it into the off-side, the contact was mis-timed and the wicketkeeper had no chance. Across the tournament so far, Pant has amassed 251 runs in 11 appearances, striking at 138.67 while maintaining an average of 27.89.
Key takeaways
- Rishabh Pant made 15 runs off 12 balls against CSK before being dismissed.
- Jamie Overton got the breakthrough after a ball that moved away at good length.
- Pant’s season output stands at 251 runs from 11 matches, averaging 27.89.
- His strike rate in IPL 2026 is 138.67.
- Fans on social media criticised Pant heavily after the dismissal.
- Pant earns Rs 27 crore from Lucknow Super Giants.
Dismissal and the social media backlash
Overton’s plan worked quickly: the ball was delivered on a length with movement away from the batter, forcing Pant into a defensive stroke. Trying to guide it towards the off-side, Pant’s attempt resulted in an inside-edge and the stumps were struck. The wicket triggered fresh concerns for Lucknow, as supporters also questioned the form of a player whose contract makes him one of the most high-profile names in the squad.
Following the dismissal, a wave of criticism spread across social media. Many posts labelled Pant as a “costliest” player in the IPL 2026 context and pointed to his salary figure. Alongside comments suggesting he looked “clueless” at the crease, other reactions demanded changes, including calls to remove him from captaincy and even the playing XI. The debate was not limited to the single dismissal, with supporters also referencing an overall lack of momentum in the ongoing season.
Lucknow’s injury changes and the earlier toss talk
In the build-up to the CSK vs LSG clash referenced in the same discussion, RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first on Thursday. Lucknow then made several alterations because of injuries. Josh Inglis, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan were left out, while Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav and Shahbaz Ahmed were brought into the side.
Chennai, meanwhile, fielded an unchanged XI from their previous match, keeping the same combination intact while Lucknow shuffled its lineup.
Quotes from the captains
Patidar explained the decision to bowl first by referencing the conditions and the earlier weather impact. He said the wicket had been covered for a while and that rain had been around as well, suggesting there was nothing particularly special for the team to target beyond those circumstances. He added that the dressing room mood has remained positive, highlighting that the side’s performances over the past seven to eight games had been encouraging. Patidar also noted that after losing the first three matches, the group had shown a commendable response, and he stressed that they were sticking with the same team.
On his side, Pant said Lucknow would have bowled first as well under similar conditions. He stressed the importance of taking every match seriously from that point onwards, while also insisting they must remain consistent and keep focusing on playing good cricket. Pant acknowledged that the team had created moments and chances in multiple games but had not managed to convert them into results, calling that the key lesson as the tournament continued.
