Sourav Ganguly raises concerns over Rishabh Pant’s T20 adaptation and leadership – Sourav Ganguly Analyzes Rishabh Pant’s Struggles in T20s and Captaincy
The Challenge of Leadership and Form
Rishabh Pant, once heralded as one of the most explosive talents in modern cricket, currently finds himself at a career crossroads. After securing a record-breaking deal with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crore, expectations were sky-high. However, the last two seasons have proven to be a difficult period for the star, prompting former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly to speak candidly about the challenges Pant is currently navigating.
A Dip in Performance and Leadership
Serving as the captain for the Lucknow Super Giants during the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, Pant has struggled to find the rhythm that once made him a feared batter in the shortest format. The burden of leadership, which often brings immense scrutiny, appears to have weighed heavily on him. Statistics from his time at the helm of LSG reflect these struggles; across 28 matches, the team managed only 10 victories, suffering 18 defeats. This win percentage of approximately 35.7% saw the team finish 7th in 2025 and languish at the bottom of the table in the 2026 campaign.
The Statistical Reality
Beyond the team results, Pant’s individual batting form has also seen a noticeable decline. In the 2025 season, he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45. While there was a slight uptick in 2026, where he managed 312 runs in 13 innings at an average of 28.36, these figures fall short of his overall IPL career average of 33.60 across 136 innings. These numbers highlight the disconnect between his potential and his current output in T20 cricket.
Ganguly’s Perspective on Pant’s Future
In a recent interview with the Times of India, Sourav Ganguly offered a balanced assessment of the situation. While acknowledging Pant’s immense talent, particularly in the Test arena, Ganguly highlighted the specific hurdles associated with T20 adaptation. “He’s a very good Test player. His Test match batting is world-class. He’s still finding it tough to adapt to T20 cricket,” Ganguly noted. The legendary cricketer emphasized that while captaincy is a prestigious honor, it remains a significant burden that requires a delicate balance between personal performance and team management.
Balancing the Burden
Ganguly further elaborated on the pressures inherent in the role, stating, “Captaincy is a burden on everyone. It’s how you handle it. But then you want to be captain, don’t you? You want to be captain because it’s a huge honor. So you will have to get that balance right. You do it, or somebody else will.” This sentiment underlines the cutthroat nature of professional T20 leagues, where performance is the primary currency. For Pant, the path forward involves rediscovering his aggressive yet calculated batting style while learning to mitigate the distractions that come with leading a franchise.
Looking Ahead
The combination of repeated injuries and the intense pressure of captaincy has clearly stifled the momentum that once defined Pant’s career. As he moves forward, the cricketing world remains hopeful that he can rediscover his best form. Whether he continues to lead or focuses solely on his role as a keeper-batter, the core requirement remains the same: a return to the world-class batting prowess that made him an icon of the game. With his talent, the potential for a comeback is ever-present, but the window to solidify his place in the T20 landscape is narrowing as competition continues to evolve.
