Rishabh Pant has struggled thus far in IPL 2026. Courtesy: Reuters

Rishabh Pant bogged down by price tag? LSG bowling coach addresses batter's poor form

IPL 2026, MI vs LSG: Bharat Arun said the price tag has nothing to do with Rishabh Pant's indifferent run of form. The LSG bowling coach backed the captain to bounce back despite his modest returns this season.

03 May 2026, 15:00 by Sabyasachi Chowdhury · India Today

In Short

Pant has scored 189 runs in eight matches this IPL season
His only notable contribution was a 68 against Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Super Giants have lost 5 matches on the trot in IPL 2026

Lucknow Super Giants bowling coach Bharat Arun said that price has nothing to do with Rishabh Pant’s indifferent run of form. Last season, Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history after being bought for Rs 27 crore, but he has faced his share of struggles, with the Super Giants also finding it tough under his leadership.

In the ongoing IPL edition, Pant has managed only 189 runs from eight games at an average of 27 and a strike rate of 126.84. Apart from his 68-run knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in the tournament, he has struggled to make an impact with the bat.

LSG NOT CONCERNED WITH RISHABH PANT

Arun, however, said that LSG have faith in Pant and believes the captain is just one good innings away from rediscovering his form.

"I don't think the price tag has got to do anything with it. It's just a question of, if you really look at his batting throughout and if you look at the second game that we played, he took us through the (finish) line,” Arun told the reporters before LSG’s match against Mumbai Indians on Monday.

"I wouldn't be too concerned about his form. It's just a question of (him being) one innings away from getting back his form,” Arun added.

Last season, LSG finished seventh in Pant’s first campaign as captain, with the left-hander scoring 269 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 127.50, including one century and a fifty. He did register a hundred against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but by then, LSG had already been knocked out of the competition.

In the ongoing season, the Super Giants started with two wins in their first three games, but their campaign has turned into a nightmare since then. Having lost five matches on the trot, LSG are languishing at the bottom of the points table. They will head into the game against MI after a Super Over defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders in Lucknow.

- Ends