Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant is facing challenges in IPL 2026 because he has not found a clear batting template for white-ball cricket, according to former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim. Pant’s recent performance includes being dismissed for a three-ball duck in a match where LSG suffered their fourth consecutive loss this season. In IPL 2026, Pant has scored 147 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 132.43.
“A modern T20 batter needs to establish his own template. For example, players like Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar have clarity in their approach, even on difficult tracks,” mentioned Karim. He highlighted that Pant’s struggle lies in his inability to define his template for white-ball cricket, not just in T20s but also in ODIs. Karim noted that Pant seems more transparent in his thought process when it comes to Test-match batting.
Pant’s inconsistency has been a topic of discussion in IPL 2026. While he showed promise with a 68 not out against Sunrisers Hyderabad, his performances as a number three batter have not been consistently impactful. Dale Steyn suggested that Pant may be overthinking his game, while Faf du Plessis mentioned the pressure on Pant to match the success of other captains like Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar also expressed disappointment in Pant’s body language during a match against RR. Bangar emphasized that Pant needs to apply more clarity in his approach early in his innings to achieve better results. He pointed out that Pant’s attempt to play aggressive shots from the start did not reflect his experience and international success.
