(DNP) Sanjay Bangar delivers honest verdict over Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Poora – Sanjay Bangar’s Bold IPL 2026 Strategy: Rethinking Retentions and Auctions

The Changing Landscape of IPL Squad Management

As the dust settles on the IPL 2026 season, franchises are faced with the perennial, high-stakes puzzle of roster construction. Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has stepped into the spotlight, providing a seasoned analytical perspective on how teams should approach their squads. Moving beyond the binary choice of ‘retain’ or ‘release,’ Bangar has introduced a tactical third option: the ‘repurchase’ strategy.

This method suggests that for certain high-value players whose form dipped or whose price tags became unsustainable, the most logical business move is to release them into the auction pool and attempt to bid them back at a more market-aligned valuation. It is a bold approach that emphasizes financial prudence in a league where salary caps are often stretched to their limits.

The Lucknow Super Giants Dilemma: Pant and Pooran

Perhaps the most eye-catching of Bangar’s assessments concerns the Lucknow Super Giants. Both Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in league history, and explosive hitter Nicholas Pooran endured challenging seasons. Pooran managed only 234 runs in 14 matches, failing to deliver the match-winning cameos expected of him. Similarly, Pant struggled to reach the lofty standards set by his historical price tag.

Bangar’s solution for LSG is to prioritize the repurchase of both stars. By entering the auction, the franchise could potentially reset the financial burden while retaining the core talent they believe can lead them to glory. Conversely, Bangar was firm on Avesh Khan, recommending that the franchise cut ties entirely following a season marred by injury and inconsistency.

Franchise-by-Franchise Analysis

Bangar’s insights spanned across the league, offering a comprehensive look at the state of various squads:

• Mumbai Indians: While he backed the retention of Shardul Thakur following his 12-wicket contribution, Bangar suggested that the five-time champions should look to move on from veterans like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. Most intriguingly, he admitted to being undecided regarding Hardik Pandya, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the star all-rounder’s future at the helm.
• Punjab Kings: The focus here was on stability. Bangar endorsed keeping Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal, suggesting their experience is worth keeping despite some statistical volatility. However, he felt Xavier Bartlett did not demonstrate enough to warrant a guaranteed spot in the next cycle.
• Delhi Capitals: The recommendation here was to retain T Natarajan, while suggesting that it might be time for the franchise to part ways with Nitish Rana and Mukesh Kumar.
• Rajasthan Royals and RCB: Bangar’s strategy for the Royals involves retaining core players like Ravindra Jadeja and Tushar Deshpande, while likely moving on from Shimron Hetmyer. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he advised maintaining faith in Romario Shepherd, while pushing players like Liam Livingstone and Harshal Patel into the ‘repurchase’ category, indicating that while their talent is undeniable, their current price points have become problematic.

The Verdict on Value

Bangar’s analysis hinges on the concept of ‘value for money.’ In the modern IPL, it is no longer just about the talent a player possesses; it is about how that talent fits within the fiscal constraints of the team structure. Players who might have been secured during peak form may now represent a drag on the salary purse, making the ‘repurchase’ strategy a vital tool for forward-thinking management.

By evaluating players through this lens, Bangar provides a framework that allows teams to balance their books without sacrificing their competitive identity. Whether franchises adopt this methodology remains to be seen, but as the auction nears, these expert observations provide a clear blueprint for the difficult decisions that lie ahead.

The upcoming auction will likely be defined by these types of calculated gambles. As teams look to build a sustainable future, the wisdom of releasing a star to potentially bring them back for less might just become the new benchmark for success in the Indian Premier League.