Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said he was surprised to see Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant bat at No. 3 in IPL 2026, but was pleased with the way he handled the chase and stayed through the innings to take his side over the line in a crucial contest. Ashwin felt Pant showed the kind of responsibility a top-order batter must bring in pressure situations.
Pant had opened the batting in LSG’s first match against Delhi Capitals, where he made just seven runs off nine balls before being run out in unfortunate fashion. After that game, Pant admitted there was a 50-50 chance he would continue to open. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, however, LSG changed their approach and sent Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram out to face the new ball.
The pair gave LSG a solid start with a 37-run opening stand before Pant walked in and anchored the chase. Ashwin praised the move, saying Pant valued his wicket and played with maturity. At the same time, he flagged Nicholas Pooran’s poor form as a concern for the team.
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“I am surprised that Rishabh Pant came at No.3, but I am very happy because he played the entire innings with responsibility and won the game for his side,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“This team is all about the M&M combination, but they will have to think about Nicholas Pooran’s form,” he added. “If you have options like Breetzke and Inglis, then you have to go towards them as soon as possible,” Ravichandran Ashwin further said.
Pooran has made only nine runs in two matches in IPL 2026, including just one run in the win over SRH. His slump has continued from SA20 2026, putting added pressure on LSG’s middle order.
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Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami was named Player of the Match for his brilliant new-ball spell against his former team. After a tough IPL 2025, the pacer has made an encouraging start in LSG colours.
“SRH had traded Shami to LSG, then he came to his former home ground and showed that he can bowl well on this ground if you keep faith in him,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “If the score was around 175 or 180, then LSG would have had trouble as well,” he noted.
