IPL 2026 | Lucknow Super Giants hope for Rishabh Pant’s renaissance

Bengaluru: Elegance and effortlessness are among the adjectives used to describe a typical left-handed batter, someone who oozes class and is pleasing on the eye. However, the flamboyant Rishabh Pant is not that cricketer.

He’s a box-office entertainer who defines the laws of physics, a perennial match-winner and one who does not allow the outside noise (exorbitant price tag here) to get into his head. But, last season was different and things did not go as per plan. 

While he ended IPL 2025 with a stunning 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Pant had an underwhelming run with the bat, scoring just 151 runs in 12 innings before that. 

Coming into his second season as LSG skipper after the franchise shelled out Rs 27 crore, the stakes could not be any higher for the Roorkee man.  

With Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan the automatic wicketkeeper choices, the success of Pant as a batter will be as important as the success of Pant as a captain to stay in India’s white-ball reckoning. And for a certain Super Giants, they will desperately hope for his renaissance. 

On paper, LSG have the ability to string in impressive performances, but it is execution in crunch situations and tackling inconsistency that needs repair. 

The top four is stacked with talent and explosiveness, enough to put fear into any opposition. Aiden Markram’s T20 World Cup form and Mitchell Marsh’s brilliant last IPL give LSG a launching pad at the top. 

Then there is Nicholas Pooran. The Trinidadian has been redefining the art of T20 batting and was among the most explosive batters last season, hitting the most sixes (40) in the competition. However, he might have to drop down a position from No. 3 despite having his best season. Pant, who is expected to earn a batting promotion to No. 3, will leave Pooran as a floater. 

LSG’s lower-middle-order batting is a concern and will depend on how Indians Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad and Shabhaz Ahmed fare. 

Coming to the bowling, they traded Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 10 crore. And if there is a weakness, it could be overdependence on the experienced quick, with two of their potential starters, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, having not played much cricket recently. And that could work in favour of Avesh Khan.  LSG have struggled to take wickets in overs 7-16 and the acquisition of Wanindu Hasaranga addressed the issue. However, there is uncertainty regarding his participation and he will need a fitness No Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket. 

It was also a brave call from LSG to leave out former world No. 1 T20 bowler Ravi Bishnoi for one season-hit Digvesh Rathi.

The lack of a quality all-rounder in the top six is a slight concern for any T20 side. And for LSG, none of the top five can consistently give four overs, which means they will need to play five specialist bowlers (IP included). 

But Lucknow and Langer won’t be sweating too much as the head coach prefers a five-bowler tactic, which Perth Scorchers thrived under his guidance.

Bowling coach Bharat Arun will have his task cut out with an array of exciting fast bowling talent in the mix. He will be part of a high-profile support staff that includes Tom Moody (Director of Cricket) and Lance Klusener (assistant coach).

But the major issue for these men is ensuring that the whole is greater than the sum of Super Giants’ individual talents to go all the way. 

Squad: Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Mohammed Shami, Arjun Tendulkar, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Mukul Choudhary, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis.

Best finishes:
Eliminator (2022, 2023)

Nicholas Pooran

Mohammed Shami