Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant has endured yet another poor IPL season. The player has fallen short of expectations in IPL 2025 and 2026 after being acquired by the team at auction in 2024. Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG paid a record Rs 27 crore, but the wicketkeeper-batter's results have been awful. Lucknow is expected to finish in the bottom two spots this year as well, having placed seventh in the previous season. Despite all of this, Pant has scored 286 runs in 13 games this season and 269 in IPL 2025.
Lakshmipathy Balaji, a former pacer for India, explained why Pant didn't succeed.According to the former player, the southpaw should bat in the middle order rather than the top order.
Balaji also pointed out the shuffling in Pant's batting order and blamed LSG for his lean patch with the bat.
Pant hasn't been able to secure a long-term batting position for himself after playing for LSG for two seasons.As a captain, he consistently has difficult seasons. His place on the team is still up for debate. He bats in the middle order, opens occasionally, and bats at No. 3. He is not played in a fixed position by LSG. He needs to play in the middle order because he is a good left-hander.

He is not played in a fixed position by LSG. He needs to play in the middle order because he is a good left-hander. Balaji stated on Star Sports Tamil, "He's much better suited there, and even for India, he has only been effective in the middle order."
According to the former India fast bowler, Pant should bat after 14 overs so he can use all of his unconventional shots.In the top order, he has struggled with strike rate. His weaknesses have been evident when batting up the order since you have to take chances to get a good strike rate. Only after 14 overs shall he enter the game. They have a strong batting lineup to deal with the 14 overs.