After Sanjiv Goenka’s blunder Is Rishabh Pant to be KL Rahul’s “perfect opening replacement” for LSG?
The Indian U-19 team of 2016, which finished as runners-up, featured promising talents like Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, and Avesh Khan. Rishabh Pant, who opened the innings alongside skipper Kishan, scored 267 runs in six matches at an average of 44.50 and a strike rate exceeding 104.
Fast forward to the IPL 2025 auction, where Pant was sold to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a staggering ₹27 crore. This acquisition presents an opportunity for him to consider opening the batting for LSG, especially since the franchise lacks a designated opener after releasing KL Rahul.
Despite having opened in five T20Is with limited success—scoring only 71 runs—this could be a chance for Pant to showcase his explosive batting at the top of the order. LSG has several options to support him, including Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran.
With a vacant opening slot, Pant’s decision to take on this role could significantly benefit LSG. His potential partnership with hard-hitting all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni or Ayush Badoni could create an exciting batting lineup as they aim for IPL success.