Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly approached Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant and asked him to commit to open the batting during the IPL 2026 season. Pant’s batting position has been a major talking point going into the new campaign, especially after a mixed run in the previous edition where he struggled for consistency apart from a single century. In their recent clash against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Pant rose to the occasion but his outing was cut short by an unfortunate run out. Pant, who opened alongside Mitchell Marsh, added a left-right combination at the top, moving the in-form Aiden Markram up to No. 3. The LSG skipper looked fluid during his brief stay, even hitting a crisp straight through Mukesh Kumar before Marsh’s shot deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end at a strange moment, keeping Pant short. Reacting to the situation, Ashwin felt that Pant should avoid uncertainty and stick to the opening. “It was very unfortunate the way Rishabh Pant got out and even more unfortunate the way he spoke after the match. He was asked if he would open the innings and he said 50-50. I am asking you with folded hands please open in every match. Justin Langer or whoever is there in the management of LSG should go and say Gotplay free play and play out the Panam. 14 games as an opener,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. He further explained that Pant’s impact could be reduced if he bats lower down the order. “If he comes into bat after an over, the bowlers have a strategy to stop him. So I think he should open the bat, for himself and also for LSG,” he added. Pant’s record as an opener in the IPL remains limited. In six innings at the top, he scored 132 runs at an average of 22.00 and a strike rate of 128.16, including one half-century. Despite Ashwin’s strong stance, Pant hinted that his role is not yet complete. “It’s still 50-50 but you will definitely see me batting in the top order this season,” Pant said after the defeat. Reflecting on the run-out and the loss, the wicket-keeper batsman emphasized the importance of moving forward quickly. “The best way to recover is to move on and not dwell on it too much. Some things are out of your control and thinking about them will only put you on the back foot. It’s about looking forward and staying positive,” he said. LSG will take on the Ishan Kishan-led Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on April 5, where Pant’s batting position will once again be in focus.
