Rishabh Pant’s return to the Indian Premier League has been far from memorable. Leading the Lucknow Super Giants, the wicketkeeper-batter has struggled to find rhythm with the bat, accumulating just 128 runs from 129 balls across nine matches—a record that marks his worst-ever performance in IPL history. His personal dip in form has mirrored LSG’s own inconsistencies, with the side faltering especially when the top order fails to fire.

Pant’s underwhelming campaign hasn’t gone unnoticed. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, speaking on Star Sports, offered a detailed analysis of Pant’s technical struggles. Bangar suggested that the left-hander has lost touch with his natural game and is seemingly unsure of his approach in white-ball cricket.

“While Pant is undoubtedly a world-class Test player, it’s clear he hasn’t quite mastered the white-ball formats yet. This season, he seems confused—trying to play shots behind the wicket too often, rather than trusting his strengths,” Sanjay Bangar observed.

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Bangar highlighted how Pant’s best performances, particularly in Test matches against top sides like Australia and England, came when he played with authority down the ground. Whether it was a step down the track to hit the ball over midwicket or a cover drive on the rise, Pant looked dominant when batting with clarity.

“In this IPL, however, he’s overusing reverse sweeps and trying to go fine too frequently. That’s not his natural game. When Pant focuses on hitting straight and square, other scoring areas automatically open up. But when he relies solely on behind-the-wicket options, he ends up being late and off-balance,” Sanjay Bangar explained.

Robin Uthappa echoed these sentiments after Pant’s lacklustre showing against Punjab Kings, stating bluntly that Pant appears lost at the crease. “There’s a serious lack of clarity. He seems unsure of his role. The fact that he promoted Abdul Samad ahead of himself says it all,” Uthappa noted.

Uthappa, however, remains hopeful. He believes that for Pant to rediscover his mojo, he needs to return to his best-suited position—No. 3.

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“That’s his natural zone,” said Robin Uthappa. “In the 2024 World Cup, Pant played at No. 3 and was a game-changer. Even in this IPL, against Chennai Super Kings, he looked comfortable when given that early opportunity to attack.”

For Pant, the message is clear—get back to basics, trust the instincts that made him a household name, and play with freedom, not confusion.