Why Did Rishabh Pant Struggle This IPL Season?

Lucknow, May 20 (NationPress) Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron offered his perspective on captain Rishabh Pant’s challenging season following the Lucknow Super Giants being eliminated from the playoff contention after a six-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in a critical match. He noted that the wicketkeeper-batsman seemed hesitant from the outset and struggled to establish his rhythm throughout the tournament.

Pant, who was acquired by LSG for a staggering Rs 27 crore during the mega auction, has faced significant difficulties this season, managing only 135 runs across 12 matches. In the recent encounter against SRH, he was dismissed for just seven runs off six balls.

“LSG depended heavily on him, particularly in the middle order. Besides Marsh, no one made an impact. Pant appeared uncertain from the very start and never really found his footing this season. It’s indicative of a player out of form. A prime Pant would have sent that shot soaring into the stands, but he ended up chipping it directly to the bowler. He’s a talented player and will bounce back,” Aaron stated on JioHotstar.

Aaron emphasized that Pant must reevaluate and modify his strategy to regain his form. “He simply needs to tweak his approach a bit. This year, he hasn’t scored effectively behind square—bowlers are preventing him from executing those shots. At Arun Jaitley Stadium, those 45-degree angles worked in his favor, but on larger grounds, they haven’t,” he noted.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra also weighed in on Pant's struggles, stating that, “Success can teach you a few lessons, but failures profoundly alter your mindset—often for the better. He isn’t a regular in the Indian T20 setup, making this season particularly crucial. It was an opportunity to showcase his skills and solidify his position. Unfortunately, it hasn’t transpired that way. His form has been erratic—another lesson in itself.

“Should he stick to his current approach in T20s or adapt? During a rough patch, it feels like nothing is working. The nights extend, and days seem longer. That’s when real learning occurs—and recovery begins. This season has been a nightmare, but the silver lining is that nightmares eventually end,” he added.

In the match, after LSG set a target of 205/7, SRH’s Abhishek Sharma led the chase with a blistering 59 runs off 20 balls, while the other SRH batsmen contributed effectively to achieve 206/4—marking the highest successful chase in IPL history at Lucknow.

Discussing Abhishek's influence on SRH, Chopra remarked that the young player mirrors his idol and mentor Yuvraj Singh in his batting style. “He brings flair to the game. Similar to Mitchell Marsh, he holds the bat high, has an impressive downswing, and boasts a beautiful backlift—clearly emulating his hero Yuvraj Singh. You can see glimpses of Yuvi when he bats. That’s why investing in Abhishek Sharma makes sense,” he said.

“If he gets into his groove, he can dominate the match. His 59 off 20 balls allowed others to settle in. He’s incredibly strong on the off-side and down the ground. He effectively dismantled Ravi Bishnoi tonight—four sixes in one over. That was decisive,” he added.

Chopra also provided his thoughts on SRH batter Heinrich Klaasen’s performance against LSG, stating, “SRH was in control by the halfway mark. It didn’t need flamboyance—just sensible play and a solid partnership, which they achieved. There’s buzz about Pant’s Rs 27 crore price tag, but Klaasen was retained for Rs 23 crore, exceeding even Rohit, Bumrah, or Kohli. That’s substantial investment. You expect a return.

“Though he has scored runs this season, they haven’t always been significant. However, tonight he displayed why Klaasen belongs in the playing XI—he skillfully guided them to victory,” he concluded.

LSG's next match is against the top-ranked Gujarat Titans on Thursday in Ahmedabad, while SRH will face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday in Bengaluru.