Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants have watched their IPL campaign slip further out of reach with each passing fixture, and a six-match run without a win has pushed them into a precarious corner. Even though they are not yet mathematically out of the playoff picture, their margin for error is now vanishingly small. Should LSG win all five of their remaining games, they would finish on 14 points—meaning their fate would likely be decided by net run rate and by results going their way in other matches. There is a clear precedent for teams surviving on that kind of points tally, but for Lucknow the path looks far tougher.
Playoff math: why 14 points may not be enough for LSG
Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the 2024 playoffs on 14 points, doing so by leaning on a stronger net run rate to outpace rivals. Lucknow, however, are facing a much steeper challenge. Their current net run rate is -1.076, which is the lowest figure among all teams, leaving qualification dependent not only on winning from here but also on gaining crucial swings in other results and improving their tournament-level efficiency.
Captaincy and batting concerns after the MI loss
Compounding Lucknow’s difficulties is the form of their skipper with the bat. Following LSG’s defeat to MI, former India coach Sanjay Bangar offered a pointed assessment of Pant’s recent output and leadership during tense phases of games. Bangar suggested that Pant’s lack of runs has not only reduced the team’s momentum at critical times, but may also have influenced his decision-making and the composure he brings to the field when pressure rises.
Bangar’s comments highlighted the psychological side of captaincy—maintaining a controlled presence even when things are not going to plan. He stressed that a captain must keep stability visible to teammates and to the broader match situation, even if the emotions are boiling underneath.
- Bangar argued that removing the “one inning” where Pant failed to score would make it easier to judge his decision-making more clearly.
- He said that if a batter is not scoring, it can affect how clearly a captain communicates and how composed he appears, particularly in high-pressure moments.
- He added that maintaining a look of composure while internally feeling the pressure is essential for a captain—and that this has been lacking in what has been seen from Pant during on-field communication with broadcasters.
Rishabh Pant’s IPL 2026 batting numbers and their impact
Pant’s struggle with the bat has been a major storyline throughout IPL 2026, as he has not been close to the high standards he set in earlier seasons. Across nine matches, he has made 204 runs at an average of 25.50, striking at 128.30. For a player celebrated for aggressive strokeplay, those figures reflect a clear drop in influence, especially when the team needs a late surge.
Lucknow have also been impacted by Pant’s reduced ability to convert starts into bigger innings. He has managed 19 fours and seven sixes so far, along with just one half-century. This inconsistency has hurt the side in key moments—particularly in matches where they have struggled to finish strongly and build a lasting run of momentum.
- Runs: 204 in nine matches
- Average: 25.50
- Strike rate: 128.30
- Boundaries: 19 fours and 7 sixes
- Fifties: one half-century
