Rishabh Pant Faces Biggest Pressure in IPL 2026, Says Faf du Plessis

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Lucknow Super Giants will enter IPL 2026 with renewed expectations and a batting-heavy squad, but much of the spotlight will firmly rest on captain Rishabh Pant. With the franchise looking to bounce back from a difficult previous season, experts believe Pant's individual form and leadership will play a defining role in LSG's campaign.

Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Game Plan - Know Your Team', JioStar expert Faf du Plessis highlighted the pressure surrounding the LSG skipper and stressed that the upcoming season could be a crucial turning point for both Pant and the franchise.

Rishabh Pant Facing High Expectations As LSG Captain

Faf du Plessis believes Pant enters IPL 2026 carrying more pressure than most players in the tournament, particularly after a challenging previous campaign.

"For me, Rishabh Pant is probably the player in the IPL, who is under the most pressure this season. Some guys flourish under the price tag pressure, while some don't. I think last season was a really tough one for him. The team struggled, and he also struggled with runs in the way that he batted. So, there is all that pressure coming into the season, along with the expectations of what the team is going to do.

"With a batting-heavy team, how are they going to maximize their bowling? Because there is pressure on your Captain, scoring runs is your first job. So, if he is scoring runs as a Captain, it takes pressure off in the first instance. But then there is a second instance, which is the team performance, overall. And last year, both of those things had big red crosses against them."

Pant's dual responsibility as captain and key batter makes his role central to LSG's fortunes this season. With a strong batting core but lingering questions around bowling depth, his performances could set the tone for the team's campaign.

Faf du Plessis Backs Digvesh Rathi To Lead Spin Attack

Faf also praised young spinner Digvesh Rathi, highlighting his unique style and consistency as key positives for LSG's spin department.

"It was unbelievable the way Digvesh Rathi went about his business. In his first season, not a lot of batters knew what he was doing. I remember facing him for the first time and thinking, 'Okay, I need to get used to this because it is a little bit different.' In the second season, once again, how do batters line up against him now? He looks like he is doing well, although some of it might also be because of the social media stuff. But his performances look consistent.

"The challenge they have is that Hasaranga has been injured quite often over the last three years. And he is injured again. So, I expect him to not be ready for the first part of the IPL. I think they would have to go with Anrich Nortje to get that balance right. But then, what does their spin combination look like? Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and maybe some part-time of Markram."

With Wanindu Hasaranga's fitness uncertain, the responsibility on Rathi and the supporting spin options could become increasingly important during the early phase of the tournament.

Lakshmipathy Balaji Highlights LSG Overseas Combination Strategy

Meanwhile, Lakshmipathy Balaji emphasised the importance of LSG's overseas core, particularly their top-order strength and the need to balance batting firepower with bowling support.

"The top order, especially with Marsh, Aiden Markram, and of course Pooran, is stacked. They have given solid starts and out-batted the opposition on multiple occasions last season. The concerns were the bowling, the captaincy, and the tactical side of the leadership group. They definitely depend heavily on their overseas trio of batters. You have the likes of Badoni, Abdul Samad, and Shahbaz Ahmed, all of whom can chip in.

"But the top order and Rishabh Pant will have to do the heavy lifting. On the overseas combination, normally I would pick three batters, so the first-choice players, Marsh, Markram, and Pooran, walk in. Then, you need to strengthen the bowling attack with one overseas fast bowler, as we are still unsure whether Hasaranga will be fully fit or not. If not, Anrich Nortje would be my choice as the fourth overseas player."

With a strong batting unit already in place, Lucknow Super Giants' success in IPL 2026 could ultimately hinge on how effectively they manage their bowling resources-and how well their captain leads from the front.