Sourav Ganguly raises concerns over Rishabh Pant’s T20 adaptation and leadership – Sourav Ganguly Analyzes Rishabh Pant’s Struggles in T20 Cricket and Captaincy
A Career at the Crossroads: Rishabh Pant‘s Recent Challenges
Rishabh Pant, once heralded as the brightest young star in modern cricket, has found himself at a difficult juncture in his professional journey. Following his record-breaking move to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a staggering INR 27 crore, expectations were sky-high. However, the last two years have seen the talented southpaw struggle to replicate the explosive form that made him a household name. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has recently stepped forward to offer his perspective on why one of India’s most naturally gifted cricketers is currently facing such a significant slump.
The Burden of Leadership at LSG
Taking on the mantle of captaincy is a transition that has defined the careers of many legends, but it is not a path that guarantees success for everyone. For Rishabh Pant, the role of captain at LSG has proven to be a double-edged sword. Since his appointment in 2025, the team has faced significant hurdles, and Pant’s individual contributions have often mirrored the team’s overall struggle.
The statistics from his two-year stint as captain paint a sobering picture. Across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, Pant led the Lucknow side in 28 matches, managing only 10 victories against 18 defeats. With a win percentage of approximately 35.7%, the results have been underwhelming, culminating in a 7th-place finish in 2025 and a bottom-of-the-table finish in 2026.
Analyzing the Dip in Batting Form
The pressure of leadership often takes a toll on a player’s focus, and Pant’s batting numbers highlight this internal conflict. During the 2025 season, he managed 269 runs at an average of 24.45. While there was a slight uptick in 2026, where he scored 312 runs in 13 innings at an average of 28.36, these figures remain well below his career standards. To put this in perspective, his overall IPL career average sits at 33.60 across 136 innings, indicating that his recent outputs are notably lower than his historical baseline.
Beyond the statistics, recurring injuries have also disrupted the rhythm that any top-tier athlete requires to maintain momentum. The combination of physical setbacks and the mental weight of leading a franchise has undoubtedly played a role in his current form.
Ganguly’s Perspective: Talent vs. Adaptation
In an insightful interview with the Times of India, Sourav Ganguly did not shy away from the reality of the situation. He acknowledged that Pant remains an elite talent, particularly in the longer format of the game. “He’s a very good Test player. His Test match batting is world-class,” Ganguly stated. However, he pointed out a specific struggle: “He’s still finding it tough to adapt to T20 cricket.”
Ganguly emphasized that while the desire to lead is a natural ambition for any player, the ability to balance that role with individual brilliance is the true test of a captain. “Captaincy is a burden on everyone. It’s how you handle it. But then you want to be captain, don’t you? You want to be captain because it’s a huge honour. So you will have to get that balance right. You do it, or somebody else will,” he added.
The Path Forward
The cricket world continues to watch Pant with high hopes. His capacity to turn a game around remains undeniable, yet the consensus among experts is that he must find a way to reconcile his natural aggression with the strategic demands of the shortest format. As the cricketing community reflects on his recent tenure, the focus remains on whether Pant can navigate these turbulent waters to rediscover his confidence and return to the form that once established him as a match-winner across all formats.
Ultimately, the challenge for Rishabh Pant is not just about technique; it is about finding the mental clarity to manage the pressures that come with being a marquee leader in the high-stakes environment of the IPL.
