LSG Are Winning — But Rishabh Pant Has a Problem Nobody Can Ignore
LSG won a last-ball thriller at Eden Gardens on Thursday — and yet the conversation the next morning was almost entirely about the man who did not win it for them.
Pant’s Numbers Tell the Uncomfortable Story
Rishabh Pant came into IPL 2026 with enormous expectations. LSG had made him their marquee signing — bought for Rs 27 crore at the auction, handed the captaincy, and tasked with transforming a franchise that had made three consecutive playoff appearances but never won the title.
Three matches in, his scores read: 10, 51, 10. One half-century against SRH surrounded by two cameos that left his side under pressure both times. Against KKR, he came in at 41/1 after five overs — a stable platform, exactly the kind of situation an anchor batter is designed for. He made 10 before giving his wicket away.
By the time LSG reached 104/5 in the 13th over, all three of their most experienced bats — Pant, Aiden Markram (22) and Nicholas Pooran — were back in the dugout.
Kaif Doesn’t Hold Back
Mohammed Kaif, speaking on Star Sports after the match, chose not to let LSG’s victory dilute the point.
“The team needed him to stay till the end. He is an experienced player, having been in the IPL since 2016. The situation when he came out to bat was not particularly difficult. LSG had already scored 41 in the first five overs. One batter needed to take responsibility and bat through the chase. That role was meant for Pant.”
“As captain, if you don’t take responsibility, you cannot help your team win games. Yes, he did well against SRH, but he needs to find consistency. Playing one good knock and then failing in the next few games is not enough. He has to read the match situation better and learn when to shift gears.”
“A captain’s job is to stay till the end in a chase, and that is something Pant must work on.”
Gavaskar: Two Problems in One Win
Sunil Gavaskar agreed with Kaif on the broader picture of LSG’s top order — but was careful to frame the win within a positive context.
On LSG’s structural problem:
“They were in a tough spot, but sealed a miraculous win with the help of their youngsters. Mitchell Marsh didn’t score much runs, Aiden Markram made only 22, Pant and Pooran also failed to get going. Despite their main batters struggling, LSG still rescued themselves and secured the win. Last year, they relied completely on their main players. This season, they are winning without relying on them.”
On Nicholas Pooran specifically:
“What’s a concern for LSG is the poor form of Nicholas Pooran. He looked out of touch against KKR and LSG moved him to the middle order because they wanted more firepower there. But he looked lost — he was just swinging his bat at each ball in the hope of getting some contact. That is not the Pooran we know. LSG will have to find a way to make Pooran regain his confidence back.”
The Positive Flip Side — A New Kind of Depth
Despite all the criticism of the top order, Gavaskar also acknowledged that what LSG are discovering in IPL 2026 is arguably more valuable than consistent big-name performances — genuine depth.
“Despite being at 104 for 5 after 13 overs, with all their main batters back in the dugout, they still managed to win. It gives LSG confidence. They know their fearless youngsters will come good at some point, and that belief alone can take them a long way.”
“Unbelievable innings by this fearless prodigy, Mukul Choudhary. What I love about the IPL is that every day we get to see something different. This guy bats at number five for Rajasthan in domestic T20 cricket. He just comes into the IPL, plays an unbelievable innings and makes everyone talk about him.”
LSG’s IPL 2026 Batting Report Card After 3 Matches
Player | Role | Form |
|---|---|---|
Rishabh Pant © | Top order anchor | 10, 51, 10 — inconsistent |
Mitchell Marsh | Opening/Top order | Underwhelming — struggling |
Aiden Markram | Middle order | 22 vs KKR — not firing |
Nicholas Pooran | Power-hitting finisher | Losing form, “looked lost” |
Mukul Choudhary | Lower order finisher | 54 off 27 — two wins built here* |
The paradox of LSG’s situation is its own kind of problem — if they keep winning thanks to lower-order heroics, the pressure on their expensive top order to fire only intensifies. What happens on a night when Mukul does not rescue them? That is the question Pant, and coach Justin Langer, must find answers to before the tournament gets to its decisive phase.