'Scoring runs is your first job': Faf Du Plessis' strong message for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026

Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has identified Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant as the player facing the most significant pressure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Speaking on JioHotstar’s Game Plan, du Plessis noted that Pant is under immense scrutiny to deliver not just as a high-impact batter, but also as a tactical leader for a franchise seeking its first title.

Rishabh Pant is under the most pressure: Faf du Plessis

The pressure stems largely from the record-breaking Rs 27 crore price tag Pant commanded during IPL 2025 mega auction, which made him the most expensive player in IPL history. Du Plessis feels that this valuation seemed to weigh heavily on the wicketkeeper-batter during his debut season with Lucknow, contributing to a campaign that fell short of the high expectations set by both the fans and the management.

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The 2025 season was particularly challenging for Pant, who managed only 269 runs across 14 matches at an average of 24.45. While he did score a brilliant unbeaten century against RCB, it came after LSG had already been eliminated from playoff contention. Du Plessis stated that for Pant to succeed this year, he must first find his personal rhythm with the bat, as scoring runs is the most effective way for a captain to alleviate the pressure surrounding his leadership and the team's overall performance.

"For me, Rishabh Pant is probably the player in the IPL, who is under the most pressure this season. Some guys flourish under the price tag pressure, while some don't. I think last season was a really tough one for him. The team struggled, and he also struggled with runs in the way that he batted. So, there is all that pressure coming into the season, along with the expectations of what the team is going to do,” du Plessis said on JioStar.

'Because there is pressure on your captain, scoring runs is your first job'

41-year-old has clearly said that the key to LSG's success lies in Pant performing at his full potential. Given that the LSG roster is heavily weighted toward batting talent, a strong personal contribution from the skipper would not only bolster the scorecards but also provide a necessary cushion for the bowling unit to operate with less scoreboard pressure.

"With a batting-heavy team, how are they going to maximise their bowling? Because there is pressure on your captain, scoring runs is your first job. So, if he is scoring runs as a captain, it takes pressure off in the first instance. But then there is a second instance, which is the team performance, overall. And last year, both of those things had big red crosses against them,” he added.

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While Pant’s 2025 campaign total of 269 runs might seem respectable, the statistics were bolstered by a lone unbeaten 118 against RCB late in the tournament. Outside of that specific performance, his consistency remained a concern throughout the season. Furthermore, the 27-year-old hasn't featured in a professional T20 match since that final outing in Lucknow, leading to questions about how this competitive hiatus might impact his sharpness during the opening stages of the 2026 IPL.