Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly backed Rishabh Pant to continue opening the batting for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, despite a disappointing outing against Delhi Capitals.
Pant promoted himself to the top of the order in LSG’s last match, moving away from the previous opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. The move signaled an aggressive approach, with the LSG captain aiming to take advantage of the powerplay. However, his innings ended early as he was run out for just 7, putting pressure on the middle order.
Pant’s Early Exit Triggers LSG Collapse
LSG struggled to recover after the early setback and were eventually bowled out for 141, a total that proved insufficient. The collapse highlighted the risks involved in reshuffling the batting order, especially when the top fails to fire.
Despite the result, Ashwin believes Pant should stick to the role. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he urged the LSG think tank to back the decision consistently rather than treating it as a one-off experiment.
Why Ashwin Wants Pant to Open Regularly
Ashwin emphasized that Pant’s attacking style is best suited to the powerplay, where field restrictions allow him to dominate. He also pointed out that batting later in the innings gives bowlers more control and planning time against Pant.
Opening, in contrast, allows Pant to play freely and set the tempo, which could benefit both the player and the team over a full season.
Lucknow Super Giants will now look to bounce back when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5 in Hyderabad, with attention likely to remain on Pant’s role at the top of the order.
