Rishabh Pant unsure about his role for LSG in IPL 2026 clash vs SRH

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant spoke about his batting position ahead of the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The wicketkeeper-batter refused to confirm his batting position during the toss at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 5.

Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first. The visiting team made three changes to their lineup. Manimaran Siddharth, Avesh Khan, and Digvesh Singh Rathi replaced Ayush Badoni, Anrich Nortje, and Mohsin Khan. For SRH, Liam Livingstone and Harshal Patel came in for David Payne and Salil Arora.

We Can Put Them Under Pressure in the Second Innings - Rishabh Pant

After winning the toss, Rishabh Pant stated that restricting the Sunrisers Hyderabad batters early is a priority. He believes chasing a target gives his team a clear advantage.

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"We are looking to bowl first. The wicket is good, but at the same time, you know, their main strength is batting. So, let them bat first. We can put them under pressure in the second innings. We keep on coming here every year, that's not a new challenge. But at the same time, this is one team which can hurt you well. But at the same time, whoever plays the better cricket will win."

We’ll See, We’ll See - Rishabh Pant Unsure About His Role

Rishabh Pant said that the surface looks good for batting but expects the pitch to slow down after the powerplay. He revealed that the team management is unsure about his position as an opener.

"(On the conditions) It looks like a good wicket for sure. But at the same time, there is something in the wicket. After the powerplay, I think it might stick into the wicket as much. The ball will get older and it's going to be harder to score. Just one change, Sid (Manimaran Siddharth) comes in for Nortje. (Will you open today?) We'll see, we'll see."

Rishabh Pant’s Opening Experiment Fails In LSG’s Season Opener

Rishabh Pant opened the innings for Lucknow Super Giants in their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals alongside Mitchell Marsh. However, he failed to make an impact, getting run out for seven runs off nine balls. Marsh’s shot deflected off Mukesh Kumar’s hand onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

Pant’s early exit hurt Lucknow Super Giants, as the team struggled to build momentum and were eventually bowled out for 141. Delhi Capitals comfortably chased down the target in the 18th over with six wickets in hand, despite a brief early challenge.

Pant’s batting position remains uncertain, as he has played multiple roles in the order since joining the team in 2025. He had a disappointing IPL 2025 season, averaging under 25 and scoring only two half-centuries in 14 matches.

Also read: Virat Kohli under pressure? Former KKR batter shares bold take on RCB star before CSK clash