There’s a buzz around Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals ahead of their opener in Lucknow on Wednesday. Both teams missed out on the playoffs last season and have got replacements in place ahead of the new season.
More than the Capitals, it will be about Rishabh Pant, who has been sidelined from India’s white-ball teams. He will have a point to prove and LSG will be banking on his maverick batting to reach greater heights.
Pant had capped off his underwhelming last IPL season with a scintillating unbeaten 118 at No. 3. They have a power-packed top-order comprising Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran. If Pant has to bat at No. 3, it will mean Pooran has to drop down. The West Indian batter enjoyed a great run at No. 3 in IPL 2025, scoring 466 runs in 12 matches, including five fifties.
Coach Justin Langer refused to throw any light on Pant’s batting position. He admitted that it was a struggle to slot Pant, Pooran, Markram and Marsh in the top-order, given that they’re all wonderful players. But he admitted that it was a good headache heading into the new season.
“I’m not telling you. Well, the truth is, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you where Rishabh Pant’s gonna bat tomorrow. I appreciate you asking, but if you want a straight answer, I’m not telling you where he’s gonna bat because then Delhi Capitals knows where he’s gonna bat, and then they’ll have to deal with it tonight, not tomorrow at 7.30. Thanks for asking, though, you’ll wait and see like everyone else,” said Langer.
Capitals don’t enjoy such advantage at the top of their batting order. They tried seven different opening combinations last year and ended the season with the lowest first-wicket average (21.78). But the addition of Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka, along with KL Rahul, could help them overcome the concern.
Nitish Rana was Delhi’s top run-getter at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season, batting at No. 3 in five of his seven innings, and could take that spot for the Capitals.
They will also have to deal with the absence of Mitchell Starc and will depend on Jammu and Kashmir pace sensation Auqib Nabi. Another left-arm seamer, T. Natarajan, will also be in contention. Sri Lanka fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera could replace Lungi Ngidi as their overseas quick.
LSG will depend on Mohammed Shami and a fit Mayank Yadav.
This will be a make-or-break season for Mayank. Having burst into the limelight by breaching the 150kmph mark in IPL 2024, he has been troubled by injuries. Mayank has played just seven competitive matches across formats since and will have to justify the faith shown in him by the franchise.
There will be enormous pressure on LSG to deliver at their home ground, but Langer remains unflustered.
“There’s pressure every season. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve had pressure on me for 30 years. Every time I batted, there was pressure on me. Every time I’ve coached a side, there’s pressure on me. Every time, for 30 years,” he said.