Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is leading Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026. The 28-year-old left-handed batter opened the innings for LSG in their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals
in Lucknow on Wednesday, April 1, but was only able to score 7 runs from 9 balls. Pant, who is the most expensive player in IPL history (signed for Rs 27 crore by LSG in the IPL 2025 mega auction), was sent back to the pavilion in the third over of LSG’s innings. He was run out at the non-striker’s end by Mukesh Kumar.
After Pant, who was a big flop for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, failed to impress with his batting in the first match of the new season as well, he faced a lot of criticism from fans on X.
Fans lashed out at Pant for his decision to break the successful opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram and also for wasting another opportunity to score runs.
An unfortunate run out for Rishabh Pant to begin the season 😮
Early success for @delhicapitals ☝️#LSG 37/1 in5⃣overs
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/lfP7dRNKfg#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #LSGvDC pic.twitter.com/dkwob65RRT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2026
An unfortunate run out for Rishabh Pant to begin the season 😮
Early success for @delhicapitals ☝️#LSG 37/1 in5⃣overs
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/lfP7dRNKfg#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #LSGvDC pic.twitter.com/dkwob65RRT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2026
Rishabh Pant is the sole reason for this loss against DC. pic.twitter.com/Q1Bm6QzktF
— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) April 1, 2026
Whole team combination and Momentum is ruined by this decision of Rishabh Pant to open 🤡🤡🤡
teams like LSG ,GT And Csk playing old age tuk tuk cricket with test players #LSGvDC #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/DfXKLZOaqB— Devendra 🇮🇳 (@Devendra786s) April 1, 2026
“What exactly was that from LSG? 👀
Why break a successful opening pair just to force Rishabh Pant up the order? The top was finally giving stability, and this shuffle just killed the rhythm.
Sometimes it feels like teams overthink just to fit star names instead of sticking to…— PB Talks (@vicabc) April 1, 2026
I bet LSG would finish below 7th position at the end of tournament with this poor captaincy of Rishabh Pant.#LSGvDC #IPL
— sanju (@ajs__x) April 1, 2026
Era started on 7:30 and ended on 7:35 😭 https://t.co/nScrgfmbJc
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????? 💛 (@Sumittt_0707) April 1, 2026
After Pant’s dismissal, Markram walked to bat at No. 3 for the Lucknow-based franchise, but the South African batter was also able to score only 11 runs from 8 balls. Delhi’s Ayush Badoni scored a three-ball duck as a No. 4 batter, and Nicholas Pooran made 8 runs from 8 balls.
For Delhi Capitals, T Natarajan and Lungi Ngidi picked up 3 wickets each, and two LSG batters were sent back to the pavilion by Kuldeep Yadav.
