The air at the Ekana Stadium this week carries a distinct weight, a damp weight that clings to the Lucknow Super Giants training shirts. For Rishabh Pant, however, the atmosphere is remarkably light. When he took his turn on Tuesday, the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League, bought for a whopping 27 crore rupees, looked like a man who had finally decided to shed the leaden weight of his own expectations.
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As LSG prepared to take over the Delhi Capitals in Lucknow, the focus shifted from the economics of its acquisition to the urgency of its survival. His white ball career for India is in flux. He lost his place in the ODIs to KL Rahul and watched from the sidelines in the T20Is as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan moved ahead of him. Pant arrived in Lucknow with a singular, critical goal: redemption. Rishabh Pant has arrived in the LSG camp better this season. (PTI Photo)
Now she has a slim figure. The extra pounds that weighed on his mobility last year are gone, replaced by a frame that suggests an offseason spent chasing smarts rather than fleeing scrutiny. There’s a sense of purpose to his movement, a sharp stride that was missing during his difficult first season with the franchise.
However, the transformation goes deeper than the physical. Pant has built a support system of mentors and confidants, individuals tasked with making sure he doesn’t handle the pressure of this season alone.
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan recently revealed details of Pant’s five-day training session with Yuvraj Singh in Mumbai. It was a meeting of left-handed soul mates, but the emphasis was not on technique. As Pathan explained, Yuvraj said the sessions were almost entirely mental. They spent hours in simple conversation, a form of psychological conditioning designed to prepare Pant for the long haul. It was about finding clarity in the chaos, a trait Yuvraj has cultivated throughout his own career.
YUVRAJ SINGH TRAINING RISHABH PANT BEFORE THE START OF IPL
YUVRAJ REALLY BUILDING STRONG FOUNDATION FOR INDIA LIKE ABHISHEK,GILL AND PANT pic.twitter.com/kwkhsnv91V— (@RetiredIPLFan) March 21, 2026
THE GALAUTIAN EQUILIBRIUM
Watching him train in Lucknow after this mentorship, one can’t help but be reminded of the culinary arts that are synonymous with the city. The challenge Pant faces is not unlike preparing the legendary Galauti Kebab.
It must be soft enough to dissolve at the slightest touch, reflecting Pant’s natural, fluid flair, his ability to scoop, backsweep and flick with a boldness that defies convention. However, it must hold its shape. Too soft and it collapses into a mess on the tawa. Too stiff and it becomes a dry, forgettable steak devoid of substance.
Pant has oscillated between these extremes for years. When he tries to be too fair, he becomes a fragile version of himself. If he leans too much into instinct, it will come back soon. This season, the mission is to find the perfect balance of Awadhi.
Tuesday’s session offered a glimpse into that pursuit. Pant was in no hurry to get inside. He spent the early part of the afternoon as both student and leader as he engaged in conversation with Mitchell Marsh before a longer discussion with Justin Langer. The procedure had a clear rhythm. He waited as Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni took turns and watched from the sidelines like a man calculating his moment. Rishabh Pant in jovial mood at LSG training camp. (PTI Photo)
When he finally stuffed himself and walked to the nets, the mood changed. The periphery has filled up. Tom Moody, the newly appointed director of cricket, Justin Langer and owner Sanjiv Goenka have all taken up positions behind the nets, with their attention set on the Rs 27 crore investment.
Pant began tentatively. He looked for timing over power, showed a straight bat and looked for rhythm. For a while it was controlled, almost measured. But instinct is never far away.
Straight drives soon gave way to flicks and backflips. At one point, the bat slipped out of his hands as he tried to throw Digvesh Rathi into the stands. It was pure Pant, unfiltered and untamed.
He was then subjected to a rigorous examination by Avesh Khan, Digvesh and Arjun Tendulkar. Saving his most aggressive intent for Arjun, he danced down the track with predatory brilliance and sent the ball deep into the stands.
Pant lacked the fluency shown by others including Badoni, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs on Tuesday night. But having not played competitive cricket since January, he seemed more concerned with time in the middle than instant perfection. The session wasn’t about fixing a bug. It was about rediscovering space, rhythm and control under the lights.
When he finally left after less than an hour, there was a spat with Langer, followed by a brief exchange. But it was the longer interview with Tom Moody that stood out. It looked like a technical audit, the kind reserved for players crucial to the team’s ambitions. Moody’s expertise is clearly invested in Pant’s recovery.
‘HE SMILES, HE’S HAPPY’
Justin Langer is well aware of the balance his captain is trying to strike. Talking about the competition in Indian cricket, he offered strong support.
“Rishabh Pant is at his best smiling, competitive, striking and aggressive. We saw that in the last game last year. That was great. But every Indian player knows the competition. India just won the World Cup again. You could have three international teams,” Langer said.
“Whether you are as experienced as Rishabh or a young player, everyone is pushing to be picked. So yes, there is pressure and that is good. The diamonds will rise. He is in a good place. He is smiling, happy and batting well. He has the right people around him to give their best.” Rishabh Pant training in Ekana. (PTI Photo)
LESS BURDENS AS A CAPTAIN?
Redemption isn’t just about batting. It’s about context. Last year, Pant led the side with a bowling attack that struggled for consistency. This season, that burden has eased.
With Mayank Yadav sitting back and working at high pace, and Mohammed Shami’s experience of guiding the likes of Mohsin Khan and Naman Tiwari, Pant no longer has to carry the side alone. Surrounded by Moody, Klusener and Langer, he has the space to focus on being the batsman India need him to be.
Whether he returns to No.3 in the formidable top order with Marsh, Markram and Pooran remains to be seen. But the conversation in Lucknow has moved beyond price tags and speculation.
This is no longer a reckless search for a spark. It’s an improvement. Pant is learning to shape his game with intent, moving beyond instinct toward craft.
If he can master Galauti’s balance, retain the softness that defines his brilliance while adding the structure that sustains it, he will no longer be cricket’s most compelling mystery.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
1 Apr 2026 13:27 IST
