Rishabh Pant received backlash from fans following his quick dismissal during the IPL 2026 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans on April 12. Pant, batting at No.3, scored 18 runs off 11 balls with two fours and a six before being dismissed by Mohammed Siraj.
Initially showing promise, Pant took an aggressive approach by hitting boundaries off Kagiso Rabada but eventually lost his wicket by attempting a risky shot against Siraj. This led to fans criticizing his performance, with some labeling him as the weakest white-ball batter. Fans also highlighted Pant’s hefty price tag of Rs 27 crore, making him the costliest player in IPL history.
In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Pant’s form has been inconsistent. Despite scoring 103 runs in four matches at an average of 34.33 and a strike rate of 130.37, his performances have been underwhelming. While he played a crucial innings of 68 runs in a previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant has struggled to convert starts into significant scores, evident from scores of 7, 68, 10, and 18 in recent games.
Looking ahead, Pant aims to deliver a substantial performance as Lucknow Super Giants face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 15 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Fans hope to see Pant regain his form and make a significant impact in the upcoming matches of the tournament.