Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant talked about his batting position ahead of the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The wicketkeeper-batsman refused to confirm his batting position during the toss at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 5.
Pant won the toss and decided to bowl first. The visiting team made one change to their lineup, with Manimaran Siddhartha replacing Anrich Nortje. Meanwhile, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone made his debut for the Hyderabad-based franchise, while Harshal Patel was recalled to the playing eleven.
We’ll see, we’ll see – Rishabh Pant is unsure about his role
After winning the toss, Rishabh Pant said that the priority is to stop the Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen early. He believes that chasing the target gives his team a clear advantage.
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“We are looking to bowl first. The wicket is good, but at the same time, you know, their main strength is batting. So, let them bat first. We can put them under pressure in the second innings. We keep coming here every year, it is not a new challenge. But at the same time, this is a team that can hurt you well. But at the same time, whoever plays better cricket will win.”
Pant said the surface looks good for batting but he expects the pitch to slow down after the powerplay. He revealed that the team management is unsure about his status as an opening batsman.
“(On the conditions) it definitely looks a good wicket. But at the same time, there is something in the wicket. After the powerplay, I think it might stick in the wicket. The ball will get old and it will be tough to score. Just one change, Sid (Manimaran Siddharth) comes in for Nortje. (Will you open today?) We’ll see, we’ll see.”
Many more to follow…
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