New Delhi: Rishabh Pant may be struggling in matches, but Justin Langer has revealed that the Lucknow Super Giants captain recently displayed explosive form in practice, scoring an unbeaten 95 in roughly 30 to 40 balls. The revelation came after LSG’s defeat to the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.
LSG’s campaign has been underwhelming so far, with the team languishing at the bottom of the table, managing just two wins in eight matches. Much of the scrutiny has centred on Pant’s captaincy and his frequent changes to the batting order, which have sparked debate among fans and analysts.
In the match against Mumbai, Pant experimented again by pushing Josh Inglis up to open alongside Mitchell Marsh, while Nicholas Pooran was slotted at number three. Pant himself batted at number four but managed only 15 runs, continuing his lean run with the bat.
Langer, however, defended the decision-making, pointing out that Pant had shown excellent touch in a recent practice game. He suggested that the move was based on the captain’s strong form during training sessions, indicating confidence in his ability to deliver.
The coach also revealed that Pant chose to move down the order voluntarily to allow Pooran to bat higher, a decision he described as selfless. The strategy initially paid off, with Pooran producing a quickfire 63 off just 21 balls, providing momentum to the innings.
Despite the disappointing result, Langer expressed belief that Pant is close to regaining top form. He emphasised the importance of persistence, noting that both players and leadership must continue to step up and adapt as the team looks to salvage pride in the remaining matches of the season.
