Ambati Rayudu suggests that Rishabh Pant’s current struggles stem from his reluctance to alter his position in the batting order. Rayudu believes Pant should consider opening rather than playing in the middle order, which may not suit his mindset.
Pant, leading Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) this IPL season, has been enduring a tough time, scoring just 128 runs in ten innings. His recent form includes five single-digit scores and just one half-century. According to ESPNcricinfo’s MVP list, which reflects a player’s overall impact on their team, Pant ranks at 176th. Against Punjab Kings, coming in at number four, he managed a sluggish 18 off 17 balls, contributing to LSG’s 37-run defeat. LSG currently find themselves in seventh place with six losses out of 11 matches.
Rayudu, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, shared his sympathy for the young captain, stating, “I think, at this point in time, I’m feeling very sorry for him because he’s not been changing his batting order or his approach. I think he’s being pretty stubborn about how he wants to go about things.”
Rayudu suggests that Pant’s optimal role might be as an opener in white-ball cricket, rather than in the middle order where he seems less effective. “I think more than anything it’s just the clarity of what he wants to do because Pant ideally for me is an opener in white-ball cricket, because in the middle order he has not been great,” Rayudu mentioned.
Throughout this IPL season, Pant has shuffled in the batting order, experimenting with positions ranging from No. 4 to No. 7, even opening in one game. Despite these changes, he frequently returns to his preferred No. 4 spot.
In the recent match against Punjab Kings, Pant briefly sparked with two boundaries after initially hitting Marco Jansen for six. However, his aggressive style led to a careless dismissal, as he lost control of his bat while attempting a big shot against Azmatullah Omarzai, leading to his downfall.
Katey Martin, a former player, sees a recurring issue in Pant’s dismissals, attributing them to his tendency to play overly ambitious shots. “… when he charged down giving himself room, [with] nice control down the ground and the next ball he plays an extravagant shot, which we know is Rishabh,” Martin remarked, recognising Pant’s signature style but also its role in his recent struggles. Martin elaborated that such audacious plays, though thrilling, often signal his undoing.
Emphasising the need for Pant to acknowledge his current form and adapt, Rayudu hopes Pant shifts from stubbornness to improvement as he seeks a rebound.
