Rishabh Pant provided Lucknow Super Giants with a moment of real relief on Thursday night, holding his nerve to finish unbeaten on 32 off just 10 balls as LSG beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs in Match 49 of IPL 2026 at Lucknow, with the result decided by the DLS method. Mitchell Marsh blazed his way to a stunning 111 and Nicholas Pooran struck 38 as Lucknow posted 209 for 3, and Pant\u2019s late burst gave the home side the extra edge they needed after a season that has otherwise gone badly off track.<\/p>\n
Chasing a target on a night when the home team looked set to pressurise the opposition, Bengaluru found themselves short despite a late push. Lucknow\u2019s innings was anchored by a century from Mitchell Marsh, while Nicholas Pooran added quick runs to lift the total to 209 for 3. With the match flowing towards a tense finish, Pant\u2019s undefeated cameo of 32 from 10 deliveries ensured the pressure stayed with RCB until the final overs, ultimately sealing the win for LSG via DLS.<\/p>\n
The victory snapped a run of six successive matches without a win, bringing a much-needed lift to an LSG side still fighting to keep its season alive. However, Pant\u2019s own campaign continues to look uneven, echoing the pattern that has followed him through recent years\u2014brief bursts of brilliance followed by extended periods where the rhythm doesn\u2019t fully show up.<\/p>\n
Pant\u2019s IPL story began with immediate impact. In 2018, playing for Delhi Capitals, he delivered a breakthrough that convinced many he was destined to become a defining T20 presence. That season, he compiled 684 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.61 and a strike rate of above 173, featuring a century and five half-centuries. The promise was clear: an aggressive, fearless style built for short-format cricket.<\/p>\n
Yet, after that standout year, he has not gone past the 500-run mark in a single IPL season again. Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for Rs 27 crore, which made him the most expensive player in IPL history\u2014an investment that has placed enormous expectations on his shoulders.<\/p>\n
In IPL 2026, the struggles have been especially visible. The win kept LSG\u2019s slim playoff hopes alive, but Pant\u2019s numbers have not matched the level expected from someone carrying such a marquee label. Over ten matches, he has made 236 runs with an average of 29.50 and a strike rate of 139.64.<\/p>\n
For a batter known earlier for explosive acceleration, those figures point to a clear drop in influence. His boundary production has also reduced, with only 23 fours and nine sixes. His only half-century of the season came in a difficult knock: an unbeaten 68 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.<\/p>\n
Even when Pant flashes signs of returning to form, converting starts into match-turning performances has been a persistent issue. In LSG\u2019s heavy chase of 255 against Punjab Kings, he struck four sixes\u2014two of them delivered one-handed\u2014before his innings slowed at a crucial stage. He finished with 43 off 23 balls.<\/p>\n
Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Pant made 42 off 38 in a chase that never truly took off for Lucknow. The innings stalled as LSG slipped from 78 for 3 to 148 for 8 before the match ended in a Super Over, where LSG ultimately failed to complete the job.<\/p>\n
Some of the dip has been building. Last season, Pant scored 269 runs across 14 matches, but 118 of those came in a final league game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru that was described as a dead rubber. Since the start of 2024, he has averaged just 24.89 at a strike rate of 131.02 across 22 IPL innings.<\/p>\n
This season alone, Lucknow have tried Pant in multiple batting spots\u2014opening, then moving him to No. 3 and No. 4\u2014suggesting uncertainty both about how best to use him and about what his form can reliably deliver.<\/p>\n
While IPL performances have drawn the loudest scrutiny, Pant\u2019s recent white-ball output for the broader international game has also softened. In 76 T20 Internationals, he has scored 1,209 runs at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate slightly above 127, with only three half-centuries. His ODI numbers remain steadier, with 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50, but he hasn\u2019t been part of India\u2019s white-ball setup since the 2024 Sri Lanka tour.<\/p>\n
Since then, KL Rahul has strengthened his position in India\u2019s ODI side, while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have moved ahead in the T20 pecking order. Samson\u2019s rise has been particularly pronounced after a sensational T20 World Cup run, where he scored 321 runs and earned the Player of the Tournament award.<\/p>\n
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Pant\u2019s recent struggles have been disappointing, especially given the expectations attached to him both as a player and as a captain. Speaking during a media interaction, Pathan said he had high hopes once Pant took over the leadership role, but that things have not gone his way over the last couple of seasons.<\/p>\n
On the question of whether Pant might face selection pressure in the ODI setup\u2014especially the possibility of being dropped\u2014Pathan suggested the picture will only become clear after the IPL ends, adding that Pant still has a few matches left to regain form and win games.<\/p>\n
Pathan also touched on the reality that marquee players are often expected to change matches on their own, and that Pant has struggled to do so consistently for LSG despite the large investment and the label that comes with it.<\/p>\n
He added that a broader debate is now growing around Pant\u2019s captaincy and whether LSG should consider alternative leadership in the future. In Pathan\u2019s view, if there are Indian options available in the playing XI, then moving toward them makes sense. He also argued that making such a change mid-season is difficult, but noted it has happened before\u2014pointing to Mumbai Indians replacing Ricky Ponting with Rohit Sharma, after which Rohit continued as captain for years.<\/p>\n
Pathan framed the key question for Lucknow as whether they have an Indian candidate who can lead for the next few years\u2014at least until the next mega auction. He said clarity from management and communication with Pant are both essential if any decision is to be handled properly.<\/p>\n
Beyond the on-field analysis, Pathan also spoke about his experience on JioHotstar\u2019s \u201cChampions Wali Commentary,\u201d a dedicated Hindi digital feed featuring former IPL champions. He said he is enjoying the format and believes viewers are getting a fresher perspective, pointing out that while regular commentary moves quickly, the Champions Wali feed works at its own pace with deeper discussions and more cricket knowledge.<\/p>\n
Keep track of the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news, the IPL schedule, the points table, and the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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