Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant’s IPL 2025 campaign read: 13 matches, 269 runs at an average of 24.45. He struggled to find runs, lost his wicket while playing rash shots, and faced criticism. His form will once again be under the spotlight when Lucknow Super Giants begin their IPL 2026 campaign. Pant-led LSG are scheduled to face Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Stadium on April 1.Will he find his form this time?
Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that Pant is paying the price for playing unorthodox and risky shots.“The scrutiny around Rishabh Pant is justified. He is a prisoner of his own reputation for playing unorthodox shots and rarely looks to grind out runs when the situation demands it. Last season, despite opportunities to take time and rebuild his form, he continued to play risky shots, which drew criticism,” Chopra said on JioHotstar.“Having been part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in Barbados, he is now completely out of the conversation for the national side. The selectors and management went from selecting a middle-order keeper to an opener keeper and a keeper who can bat at three. While the IPL is massive, representing India remains the ultimate priority, and losing that spot means it’s time for him to go back to the drawing board,” he added.Chopra also revealed that Pant’s batting approach was not liked by former India head coach Rahul Dravid.“We sometimes fail to understand what Rishabh Pant brings to the table and how he sees the game unfold. In Test cricket, he had conversations with Rahul Dravid when he was the Head Coach. Rahul bhai was not very happy with Pant’s batting approach. To give credit where it’s due, Pant sees the game very differently from most of us who see it conventionally,” he said.Pant has been seen taking guidance from former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh ahead of IPL 2026.Chopra believes Pant approaching Yuvraj is a positive sign.“The most heartening thing for me is his acceptance that he needs to change something in his game. He needs to look for a blueprint. Something is not going right. He knows he is that good. The fact that he has approached Yuvraj Singh for help shows he acknowledges that he needs guidance, help and assistance. That is a great sign. With the quality, talent and skills he has, it is a travesty that he is not killing it in white-ball cricket,” he said.
