‘Is Rishabh Pant really an opener?’ Kevin Pietersen questions LSG call

New Delhi: Former England captain Kevin Peterson has aroused doubts Ritha PantThe decision to promote himself to the top order suggests that the Lucknow Supergiants skipper may be “a little too far ahead” in the batting position.Pant, who was dismissed for 7 off 9 balls in LSG’s IPL 2026 opener against Delhi Capitals, later expressed his intention to bat in the best order this season. However, Peterson believes the move could backfire.“Too much pressure from senior management”“When you look at the intensity and depth of LSG’s batting, is Rishabh Pant really the opening batsman?” said Pietersen. “I think he’s probably outgrown his spot in the lineup compared to last year.”The former England star pointed out that Pant had dropped down the rankings earlier but is now looking to move up again, a shift he believes may not be ideal. “He just needs to go out and enjoy his cricket,” added Pietersen, warning that forcing himself into the top three could bring unnecessary pressure.“Don’t force yourself to bat at third. Enjoy the luxury of that position. I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself by opening up the batting position,” he said.Rizvi wins accolades after match winPietersen also heaped praise on Delhi’s young batsman Samir Rizvi, who turned the match around with an unbeaten 70 as Capitals chased 142.“I’m not surprised that he performed really well in the situation,” Peterson said, recalling his time coaching the youngster. “The kid is a good player and we might need to invest in him for a while.”He stressed the importance of supporting young talent, adding: “When you invest in a player you need to believe he can repay you and he has done that.”Pietersen said Rizvi’s effort to win games under pressure in the season opener was more important than scoring freely in high-scoring games, underscoring his temperament and potential.