Rishabh Pant’s decline in T20s (Photo: Screengrab/X)
Rishabh Pant finally gave the Lucknow Super Giants something to cheer about on Thursday night, remaining unbeaten on 32 off 10 balls, as LSG edged out Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs via DLS method in Lucknow in the 49th match of IPL 2026.
While Mitchell Marsh’s 111 and Nicholas Pooran’s 38 powered LSG to 209 for 3, Pant’s late appearance provided the finishing touch in a much-needed win for a team whose IPL 2026 campaign has escalated poorly.However, even amid the relief after a six-match winless run, Pant’s season has been wobbly at best and in many ways more similar to the trajectory of his career over the past few years – flashes of brilliance mixed with inconsistency for an extended period.Pant arrived in the IPL in 2016 carrying the reputation of a gritty six-hitter destined to dominate T20 cricket. At the time, there were far greater doubts about whether his aggressive style would meet the demands of Test cricket. But a decade later, the scenario has flipped dramatically.Today, Pant is considered one of India’s greatest match-winners in Test cricket, producing memorable knocks abroad and redefining the role of wicket-keeper in the longest format.
But in white-ball cricket, especially T20s, inconsistency has become a growing concern.
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Rishabh Pant’s declining T20 numbers
His breakthrough IPL season came in 2018 when he dismantled the bowling attacks for Delhi Capitals, scoring 684 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.61 and a strike rate above 173, including a century and five fifties. This was the season that convinced many that Indian cricket had found its next great star in T20.But despite occasional flashes over the years, Pant never crossed the 500-run mark in an IPL season again.
Ahead of the mega IPL 2025 auction, Lucknow Super Giants bought him for a staggering Rs 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.The struggles became more evident in IPL 2026, as LSG suffered a disastrous campaign. Although Thursday’s win kept their slim playoff hopes alive, Pant’s form reflects the team’s decline for most of the season.In ten matches this season, Pant has scored 236 runs at an average of 29.50 and a strike rate of 139.64.
For a batsman who was once known for his explosive hitting style, the numbers bear out the sharp decline in impact. He scored 23 fours and just nine sixes, while his only half-century came in an unbeaten 68 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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Even in an innings where Pant hinted at rediscovering his touch, he struggled to convert his starts into successful knocks. During LSG’s grueling 255-run chase against Punjab Kings, Pant smashed four fours, including two brilliant one-handed knocks, before his innings stalled at a crucial stage and ended at 43 off 23 balls.
Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he made 42 off 38 in a mediocre chase but failed to accelerate as LSG collapsed from 78 for 3 to 148 for 8 before losing in the Super Over.The decline in shape is not entirely new. Last season, Pant scored 269 runs in 14 matches, of which 118 came in a dead rubber against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the league final. Since the start of 2024, he has averaged just 24.89 at a strike rate of 131.02 across 22 innings in the IPL.This season alone, Pant has played in three different positions for LSG – opener, No.3 and No.4 – reflecting the uncertainty over his role and form.His struggles in franchise cricket also coincided with a decline in India’s white-ball setup. In 76 T20Is, Pant has scored 1,209 runs at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of just over 127, with only three half-centuries. His ODI numbers are better – 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50 – but he has not played white-ball cricket for India since the 2024 tour of Sri Lanka.Since then, KL Rahul has consolidated his place in the Indian ODI squad, while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have moved forward in the T20 pecking order. Samson, in particular, cemented his status after a sensational T20 World Cup campaign in which he scored 321 runs and won the Player of the Tournament award.
Irfan Pathan talks about Pant’s poor form and captain’s pressure
Former India player and JioHotstar expert Irfan Pathan admitted that Pant’s struggles over the past two seasons have been disappointing, especially considering the expectations surrounding him as a player and captain.“I think when he became captain, I had high hopes from him as a cricketer and a leader. Unfortunately, he did not perform well and things did not work out for him over the last two seasons,” Irfan said during a media interaction.“In terms of pressure, especially regarding the possibility of him being dropped from the ODI squad, we will only know once the Indian Premier League is over. He still has a few matches left to get back to his level and win matches,” he added.Irfan also pointed out that top players are expected to change the style of play on their own, something that Pant has struggled to do consistently for LSG despite the huge expectations attached to him.“When you are the flagship player, when a franchise spends that much money on you in the auction, they expect match-winning performances on your own. That’s why you are the marquee player. But that has not happened with Rishabh Pant and he is under pressure,” he said.“But as far as the ODI team is concerned, we will know that only after the Indian Premier League is over. Who knows, he may come back and win a couple of matches from here, or his poor form may continue. Both scenarios are possible, but I don’t think the selectors will take any decision before the end of the IPL season,” he added.The former India pacer also addressed the growing controversy around Pant’s captaincy and whether LSG should eventually look at alternative leadership options.“Every player will be under pressure when the performance is not forthcoming. In terms of leadership, I personally feel that if you have Indian options in the playing XI, you should move towards it,” Irfan explained.“In the middle of the season, making such a decision becomes very difficult. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Mumbai Indians did it when they replaced Ricky Ponting with Rohit Sharma, and then Rohit continued as the team’s captain for many years.
So the question is whether LSG has an Indian option that can drive the next few years, at least until the next mega auction. “For this reason, clarity from management and communication with Pant is very important,” he added.Apart from analyzing Pant’s struggles, Irfan also spoke about his experience on JioHotstar’s ‘Champions Wali Commentary’, a dedicated Indian digital feed featuring former IPL champions.“I’m really enjoying it and the viewers also get a new perspective. In regular commentary, things move very quickly, but Champions Feed moves at its own pace with deeper discussions and more cricket knowledge,” he said.