Former England batter Kevin Pietersen has questioned Rishabh Pant’s call to promote himself to the top of the order for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, especially after the skipper’s unfortunate start against Delhi Capitals. Pant’s stay was cut short in bizarre fashion when he was run out at the non-striker’s end after Mitchell Marsh’s straight drive deflected off the bowler’s hand and crashed into the stumps.

The decision to open has sparked debate because Pant’s batting form was already under scrutiny last season. Pietersen feels the move may be adding unnecessary pressure to a player who, in his view, could be far more effective by batting lower down and playing with greater freedom.

“Is Rishabh Pant really an opening batter?” Kevin Pietersen asked while analysing the move on JioHotstar. He also suggested that Pant may be forcing himself too far up the order instead of settling into a role that suits his natural game.

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Pant, who became the most expensive player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore last year, had a mixed season with the bat. He did score a century, but his overall returns were modest, finishing with 269 runs in 13 matches at an average of 24.45.

The hundred came late in the campaign, when LSG were already out of playoff contention, which only added to the questions around his consistency. Lucknow’s IPL 2026 campaign has also begun on a disappointing note, with Delhi Capitals chasing down 142 comfortably to hand LSG an opening defeat.

With pressure already mounting and a tough fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad scheduled for April 5 in Hyderabad, Pant’s batting position is likely to remain a major talking point.

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For LSG, the challenge now is not just recovering from a loss, but also finding the right balance in their batting order. And for Pant, the next few matches could decide whether his bold move to open becomes a smart tactical call or an experiment to abandon.