Sourav Ganguly raises concerns over Rishabh Pant’s T20 adaptation and leadership – Sourav Ganguly Raises Concerns Over Rishabh Pant’s T20 Adaptation and LSG Leadership

The Burden of the Price Tag: Rishabh Pant‘s Recent T20 Struggles

Rishabh Pant made waves in the cricketing world when he secured a historic deal with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record-breaking amount of INR 27 crore. Known as one of the most explosive and naturally gifted wicketkeeper-batters in modern cricket, immense expectations naturally followed him to his new franchise. However, the last couple of years have presented a challenging phase for the dynamic southpaw, characterized by a noticeable slump in form and struggles on the leadership front.

During a recent candid interview with the Times of India (TOI), former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly shared his expert assessment of Pant’s current situation. Ganguly raised valid concerns regarding how the added pressure of captaincy has impacted Pant’s individual batting performance and his overall adaptation to the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket.

Sourav Ganguly Weighs in on the Test vs. T20 Conundrum

There is no denying Rishabh Pant’s exceptional pedigree in the longest format of the game. He has played some of the most memorable, match-winning knocks for India in Test cricket on foreign soil. Sourav Ganguly was quick to acknowledge this, highlighting that while Pant is undoubtedly world-class in Tests, his T20 game is still a work in progress, especially when combined with the tactical demands of captaining a franchise.

Ganguly stated: “He’s a very good Test player. His Test match batting is world-class. He’s still finding it tough to adapt to T20 cricket. I hope he does because he’s got enormous talent.”

The former BCCI president also touched upon the double-edged sword that is captaincy. While leading a team is a prestigious honor that almost every cricketer covets, it requires a delicate equilibrium that not everyone can master quickly. “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,” Ganguly added, delivering a straightforward reality check.

A Tough Two-Year Captaincy Stint for LSG

Pant took over the leadership reins for the Lucknow Super Giants for two consecutive seasons in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. Unfortunately for both the franchise and the player, this period did not yield the desired success. The added responsibility of guiding the team seemed to restrict Pant’s natural flair, which in turn affected the collective performance of the squad.

A closer look at the team’s performance metrics under Pant’s captaincy paints a stark picture of these struggles:

• Total Matches Played: 28
• Wins: 10
• Defeats: 18
• Win Percentage: Approximately 35.7%

The downward trajectory of the franchise was evident in the final standings. In the 2025 season, the Lucknow Super Giants finished in a modest 7th place. However, the situation worsened in the 2026 season, where the team finished at the very bottom of the table, occupying the 10th position in the ten-team league. This drop in team performance coincided directly with Pant’s individual struggle to find consistency with the bat.

Deconstructing Rishabh Pant’s Batting Dip

While captaincy pressure played a major role, Pant’s momentum was also repeatedly halted by unfortunate injuries on multiple occasions. These physical setbacks made it incredibly difficult for him to sustain any run of form, leading to a significant drop in his batting numbers compared to his career standards.

To understand the extent of this slump, we can compare his performance over the last two IPL seasons against his overall career statistics:

• IPL 2025 Season: 269 runs scored at an average of 24.45.
• IPL 2026 Season: 312 runs scored across 13 innings, with an average of 28.36.
• Overall IPL Career: 3,865 runs from 136 innings, maintaining a career average of 33.60.

The statistics reveal that his averages in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons fell well below his career average of 33.60. For a player who was acquired for a record INR 27 crore, these figures represent a massive drop-off from what is expected of a marquee player. The challenge for Pant lies in reclaiming the fearless, counter-attacking style that defined his early IPL career while navigating the tactical responsibilities of a leader.

Balancing the Double Burden: Individual vs. Captaincy Performance

The transition from a primary wicketkeeper-batsman to a captain-keeper-batsman is one of the toughest transitions in modern cricket. Some players thrive under this added pressure, using the responsibility to elevate their game. However, others find it exceptionally difficult to compartmentalize their individual batting plans from the overarching demands of field placements, bowling changes, and team strategies.

In Pant’s case, the pressure of leading LSG appeared to weigh heavily on his shoulders. With two tough seasons behind him, the road to redemption will require a conscious effort to restore his natural batting rhythm in the shortest format of the game. Whether he continues to lead or decides to focus solely on his batting, the cricketing world will be watching closely to see if one of India’s brightest talents can turn things around and conquer T20 cricket just as he has mastered the Test arena.