LSG’s big call for IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant batting at number three, Pooran pushed out?

Lucknow Supergiants captain Rishabh Pant to bat at No. 3 in a game that could make or break intense pulsed light The season starts on March 28th. The stakes are high for Pant entering his second season as captain of LSG, with the franchise paying a record Rs 27 crore for his services in the 2025 mega auction.Following last year’s disappointment, a successful season as a leader and top-order batsman could make him a part of India’s T20 plans going forward. Pant has been just an important member of the Indian Test team across formats and is also the backup wicketkeeper to KL Rahul in ODIs.

T20 comeback for India

The 28-year-old lost his place in the T20 squad when India won the World Cup in 2024 and will need to do something special to make a comeback considering Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan were automatically selected based on their recent performances. Therefore, the upcoming IPL is not just about offering a hefty price tag but also staying relevant in the shortest format. Pant mainly finished fourth last season but rightly pushed himself to third at the end of the season, by which time it was too late to turn around LSG’s fortunes. Nicholas Pullan Will be moved down the order to make way for Pant, with numbers four, five and six being used as floating positions.The team has a training camp in Chennai and they are currently training at their home ground in Lucknow ahead of their opener against Delhi Capitals on April 1. The Justin Langer-led support staff and Pant are on the same page about the leader’s batting position. “It is clear to both the team management and Pant that his game is best suited at No. 3. The top order this season is locked in with Eden, Marsh and Pant. The middle order is flexible and players will be floated depending on the match situation,” an IPL source told PTI.

Flexible mid lane settings

Pant had a low batting average of 133.17 last year and only 118 of his 269 runs came in just one innings. The LSG middle-order members include Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad and Shabaz Ahmed. Bowling was LSG’s weakest link last season with pacers including Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan missing due to injuries. Other pace options include Avesh Khan and Anrich Nortje, another injury-prone fast-break player. “The batting is set. The bowling group looks much better than last year but the combination is yet to be decided. Mayank is fit but needs to play more balls in the nets. Hopefully he can repay the faith the team has reposed in him over the last four to five years,” the source added.