Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has sparked debate ahead of IPL 2026 by suggesting a bold change in Lucknow Super Giants’ batting order. Ashwin believes captain Rishabh Pant should open the innings alongside Mitchell Marsh, even if it means leaving out Aiden Markram from the playing XI.

Pant has previous experience as an opener in both the IPL and T20 internationals, though his numbers at the top remain modest. Despite that, Ashwin feels the move could unlock Pant’s natural attacking game, allowing him to play with greater freedom at the start of the innings.

Sharing his preferred XI on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin emphasised that Pant performs best when he separates leadership from batting responsibilities. He pointed out that Pant’s instinctive style thrives when he focuses purely on batting, rather than carrying the added pressure of captaincy while at the crease.

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The suggestion, however, comes with a significant trade-off. Markram, who has been in impressive form, recently led South Africa to a strong T20 World Cup campaign and finished as their leading run-scorer. Dropping a player of his calibre would be a tough call, especially given his consistency and composure in the top order.

Ashwin justified his stance by highlighting team balance. According to him, LSG need to prioritise overseas slots for experienced bowlers, ensuring strength in both pace and spin departments. This, he believes, makes it difficult to accommodate both Marsh and Markram in the same XI.

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With LSG set to face Delhi Capitals in their opening match, all eyes will be on Pant and the team management to see whether they experiment with the batting order or stick to a more conventional approach.