Langer Backs Pant Amidst IPL Struggles: 'Not Far Off' His Best
Justin Langer defends Rishabh Pant despite LSG's poor IPL 2026 performance.
Top Summary
- What happened: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) coach Justin Langer has voiced his support for captain Rishabh Pant despite the team's struggles in IPL 2026.
- Why it matters: LSG is at the bottom of the table, and Pant's form is under scrutiny. Langer's backing is crucial for team morale.
- What changes for people: Langer's statements may influence fan perception of Pant and impact team strategy going forward.
- Who is affected: Rishabh Pant, the LSG team, LSG fans, and the IPL 2026 season are all affected.
Langer's Support for Pant
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) coach Justin Langer has offered his full support to captain Rishabh Pant, despite the team's disappointing performance in IPL 2026.
Langer insists Pant is "not far off" rediscovering his best form. LSG is currently at the bottom of the table with only two wins in nine matches.
Practice Game Brilliance
Langer revealed Pant's impressive form in a recent practice game. Pant scored approximately 95 runs off 30-40 balls, convincing the team management of his potential.
"We played a practice game here two days ago, and Rishi… maybe 95 off 40 or 30 balls — you're just looking at it and you go, 'Oh my gosh, that's Rishabh Pant at his very best,'"
Langer emphasized Pant's proven ability in Test cricket, citing instances where he "destroy[ed] teams at number five."
Selfless Batting Order Decision
Pant's decision to bat lower in the order, allowing Nicholas Pooran to bat higher, was described as "selfless" by Langer. Pooran scored an explosive 63 off 21 balls.
"He selflessly moved down the order to let Nicky P bat, whose batting was unbelievable,"
Langer dismissed the idea that Pant's price tag is affecting his performance. He stated that "the money has nothing to do with it."
Pant's Acknowledgment of Shortcomings
Pant himself admitted that LSG fell short of their target after a strong start. He believes they were approximately 10-15 runs short, considering the wicket was conducive to a score of 220-230.
"Definitely, the way we started, I think we should have gotten more runs… we were short 10-15 runs because it was a 220-230 wicket,"
Pant acknowledged the need for both good luck and increased effort to improve their situation.
What to Watch Next
LSG's playoff hopes are diminishing, making their upcoming matches critical. All eyes will be on whether Pant can translate his practice form into match-winning performances and lead LSG to a turnaround.