Former South Africa captain and former CSK star Faf du Plessis believes Rishabh Pant will be the player under the most pressure in IPL 2026, with the Lucknow Super Giants skipper looking to bounce back from a disappointing campaign. Pant, who became the most expensive player in IPL history with a haul of Rs 27 crore, is expected to lead from the front after a tough first season with LSG.
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Pant’s debut campaign as captain of LSG in IPL 2025 fell short of expectations, both individually and collectively, with the team struggling for consistency. When we spoke about the JioHotstar Game Plan – Know Your Team, du Plessis explained how the onus will be on Pant to deliver with the bat and as a leader:
“For me, Rishabh Pant is probably the player in the IPL who is under the most pressure this season. Some guys thrive under the pressure of the price tag and some guys don’t. I think last season was really tough for him. The team struggled and also struggled with the runs the way they batted. So all that pressure comes into the season along with the expectation of what the team will do,”
“How are they going to maximize their bowling with the batting team? Because the pressure is on your captain, scoring runs is your first job. So, if he scores runs as a captain, that takes the pressure off in the first instance. But then there’s the second instance, which is the overall performance of the team. And last year, both of those things had big red crosses against them.”
Du Plessis’ comments reflect the wider expectations surrounding LSG this season, especially after their stunning performance last year. With a strong batting line-up on paper, we will now focus on translating the potential into consistent results.
HOW WAS RISHABH PANT IN IPL 2025?
Pant endured a difficult IPL 2025 season, managing just 269 runs from 14 matches at an average of 24.45. Although he scored a century in the team’s last match, his performances throughout the season lacked consistency.
More importantly, LSG struggled as a unit and failed to make a significant impact in the tournament, raising questions about the team’s balance and leadership. As captain, Pant faced the dual challenge of leading the side while trying to rediscover his own batting rhythm.
Heading into IPL 2026, expectations are clear. Pant will have to handle the bat, lead the team more effectively and justify the massive investment in him. With the pressure mounting, the upcoming season could define his trajectory as a leader and key figure for LSG.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
22 March 2026 21:12 IST
