Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has publicly backed captain Rishabh Pant after yet another tough IPL 2026 outing, insisting the wicketkeeper-batter is close to getting back to his sharpest form. LSG’s latest setback came against Mumbai Indians on Monday, piling more pressure on the team as they sit at the foot of the standings with only two victories from nine matches.
Key takeaways
- Justin Langer said Rishabh Pant is “not far off” from returning to his best after a string of underwhelming displays.
- LSG suffered another loss versus Mumbai Indians on Monday and remain bottom of the table with two wins in nine games.
- Langer pointed to a standout practice match where Pant looked in fine touch, scoring close to 95 in a short burst.
- Pant’s decision to bat lower in the order was defended as a team-first move to allow Nicholas Pooran to take on more deliveries higher up.
- The coach rejected claims that Pant’s high price is impacting his output, saying leadership carries its own heavy pressure.
- Pant admitted LSG were short of the total they could have posted after a strong start, and suggested luck may also be needed for the turnaround.
Langer points to practice form as evidence of a return to rhythm
With attention focused on Pant’s batting form and on how the captain has been reshuffling the batting order, Langer offered a clear defence. He revealed that, behind the scenes, he had seen enough recently to believe Pant was ready to contribute at the highest level.
Langer said the team played a practice game just two days earlier, where Pant produced an eye-catching performance. In his telling, Pant struck around 95 runs off a small number of balls—described as either 40 or 30—leaving the management convinced they were seeing the “best” version of Pant.
“We played a practice game here two days ago, and Rishi… maybe 95 off 40 or 30 balls,” Langer explained. “You look at it and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s Rishabh Pant at his very best.’”
He added that the team’s confidence is rooted in what Pant has done before, citing his ability to wreck bowling attacks in Test cricket when batting at number five. Langer suggested that this kind of form could translate into the match situation, and that the changes made around the batting setup were not random.
“So, he’s a very good player; we know that,” Langer said, referencing Pant’s Test success. “We felt today… it might be a good option for the team.”
Batting-order call explained as a selfless move
Pant’s approach in the match drew debate because he chose to push himself down the order, creating space for Nicholas Pooran to bat higher. Langer addressed the criticism directly, framing the call as a selfless decision designed to maximise the team’s impact.
“He selflessly moved down the order to let Nicky P bat, whose batting was unbelievable,” Langer said. Pooran, he noted, delivered a rapid knock of 63 off just 21 balls, reinforcing the idea that the captain’s sacrifice had a clear strategic purpose.
Langer also spoke about captaincy in the IPL, arguing that the role demands constant presence and responsibility even when results are not going the team’s way. He suggested Pant’s leadership will continue, and that the team can benefit if the captain’s preparation leads to better outcomes.
“As a captain in the IPL… you’ve got to keep fronting up,” Langer added. “That’s all you can do, and he’ll keep fronting up and hopefully help us get some wins.”
Price tag concerns dismissed; pressure from leadership highlighted
Another talking point around Pant has been the scrutiny connected to his record price. Langer dismissed the notion that money is playing a role in Pant’s performances.
“Honestly, I don’t think the money has anything to do with it… leadership is a tough position, you’re carrying lots of pressure, and he knows that,” Langer said. “He’s working hard… and he’s not far off.”
Pant admits LSG were short after a strong start
Despite Langer’s defence, Pant himself acknowledged that LSG did not convert a promising beginning into a match-winning total. He suggested the team should have closed the innings with more runs.
“Definitely, the way we started, I think we should have gotten more runs… we were short 10-15 runs because it was a 220-230 wicket,” Pant said.
While he avoided pinning blame on the bowlers, Pant indicated that turning the results around will require both improvement and a measure of favourable breaks. He said the team is likely to need some good fortune, along with additional effort.
“I think we need some good luck… and it’s going to take some more effort from us, for sure.”
LSG look for practice momentum to become match-winning runs
With playoff hopes now hanging by a thread, LSG will be hoping that what Langer described in training can quickly show up in the pressure of match play. The club’s next challenge is to turn close-but-not-enough innings, including the runs Pant believes were left on the table, into totals that can survive the final overs and deliver the wins their position demands.
