Rishabh Pant played as an opener for the Lucknow Super Giants in their first match of IPL 2026 on Wednesday (April 1) but was only able to score 7 runs from 9 balls. He got run out in an unfortunate manner,
and his decision to break the successful opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to fit himself up at the top also invited a lot of criticism. But despite that, Pant has confirmed that he will bat in the top order this season for the Lucknow-based franchise.
After the conclusion of the LSG-DC match in Lucknow, Pant was asked if he would continue to play as an opener for LSG in the remainder of IPL 2026, and he said that it is a 50-50 decision. He, however, stated that he will bat in the top order.
“50-50 call, but definitely we’ll see me in the top order,” Pant said during the post-match presentation.
In the 2025 edition of the IPL, Nicholas Pooran batted at No. 3 for Lucknow Super Giants and impressed with his performances, but on Wednesday he played at No. 5 and was only able to score 8 runs from 8 balls. Markram batted at No. 3 for LSG against DC, and Ayush Badoni was promoted to No. 4.
When asked about the reason behind pushing Pooran to No. 5 and batting Badoni at 4, Pant stated it was done so that, in his absence, Pooran could take charge in the middle overs.
“The idea was simple – he would take charge in the middle overs since I opened. We also had a role defined for Badoni – when we lose early wickets, that’s the time he can make a mark,” Pant said.
Badoni, who has been associated with LSG in the IPL since the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League, scored a three-ball duck against Delhi Capitals. He was sent back to the pavilion by T Natarajan.
Natarajan picked up three wickets for Delhi Capitals in their first match of IPL 2026 for 29 runs in four overs, and South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi also dismissed three opposition batters. Kuldeep Yadav, who was only able to play one match for the Indian team, also impressed with his bowling for DC on Wednesday and picked up 2 wickets for 31 runs in four overs.
