Yuvraj Singh took to social media to thank Rishabh Pant for his birthday gift, but the former India cricketer also used the moment to playfully take a dig at his other students for not making similar gestures.
on Instagram Yuvraj showed off the gift he got from the Lucknow Super Giants captaina premium golf club from one of the best brands that can cost a fortune. It also carried a message from Pant which read: “Dear Yuvi paaji, Thank you for your support and guidance. See you on the golf course. I love RP.”
Yuvraj made sure to thank Pant for the thoughtful gesture, but also cheekily called out some of the other players he has mentored who are currently part of the IPL set-up. The list included Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Abdul Samad and Priyansh Arya, with Yuvraj jokingly telling them to “be a little shy” for not reciprocating Pant’s gesture.
Yuvraj Singh, Mentor
The legendary all-rounder continues to play a pivotal role in Indian cricket even after retirement. After a glittering career, Yuvraj shifted his focus to mentoring and helping mold some of the country’s most exciting batting talent in the shortest format.
Several of those names include players he jokingly called on social media. Over the past few years, Yuvraj has quietly built a strong reputation as a mentor, working closely with the likes of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh. He also spent time with the likes of Sanju Samson, helping some of India’s most explosive batsmen improve their white-ball game.
His influence is increasingly visible in the T20 set-up in India, where several players he has worked with have become key figures in the national side. For example, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were among India’s most important batsmen at the top of the order and played a major role in the team’s triumph in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026
However, IPL 2026 was another difficult season for Pant.
Lucknow Super Giants struggled for rhythm throughout the campaign and currently sit at the bottom of the points table with just four points from nine matches. Their play-off hopes hang in the balance and their performances this season have left plenty of question marks surrounding the balance of the side.
Pant’s own comebacks with the bat mirrored the team’s struggles. The left-hander managed just 204 runs in nine matches at an average of 25.5 and a strike rate of 128.30. Despite a half-century of winning causes, Pant has not been able to create the kind of impact expected of a player of his stature.
With five matches to play, Lucknow will be hoping to salvage something from the season, starting with their clash with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on May 7.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
06 May 2026 14:21 IST
