Lucknow Super Giants' head coach Justin Langer, the head coach of , has expressed immense confidence in Rishabh Pant’s ability to rediscover his best form for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. With the tournament set to begin on March 28, Langer dismissed any concerns regarding the skipper’s recent struggles, noting that elite competitors like Pant rarely stay at a low point for an extended period. The coach highlighted that the team is setting high benchmarks for their leader, especially given the flashes of brilliance he showed toward the end of the previous year.
Rishabh Pant gets massive backing from LSG coach ahead of IPL 2026
Pant has been proactively preparing for the upcoming campaign, recently completing a specialized training stint in Mumbai under the mentorship of legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. This focused preparation follows a difficult phase for the 26-year-old, who has been sidelined with a side strain since January and is looking to move past a statistically quiet 2025 season. Langer noted that the early indications from training are very positive, suggesting that the wicketkeeper-batter is physically and mentally ready to spearhead the Super Giants’ charge.
The franchise is banking on Pant to be the cornerstone of their middle order as they look to improve on their seventh-place finish from last year. Despite the heavy expectations that come with his status in the league, the management remains fully supportive of his leadership and explosive batting style. With the first phase of the season just around the corner, Langer is convinced that their captain's resilience will be a major factor in the team's pursuit of the title.
“He'll be ready to go. He's training at the moment. We've got a camp going on at the moment, so I'll see him in a couple of days. He's firing, and as I said, with all champions, they don't stay down for long. His last game last year in the IPL, we saw how brilliant he can be, so that's our expectation for him this year,” Langer told ESPNCricinfo.
Rishabh Pant looks turn it all around with the bat in IPL 2026
Pant heads into the 2026 season carrying the distinction of being the most expensive player in IPL history, following a landmark 27 crore deal with LSG. However, his journey to the upcoming tournament has been sidelined by injury; he has been out of competitive action since January after suffering a side strain during a practice session in Vadodara, just before India's ODI series against New Zealand. The pressure to perform is significant given his recent track record in the league. During the 2025 campaign, Pant recorded his lowest output since his debut in 2016, managing only 269 runs across 14 matches with a strike rate of 133.16. Although he signed off that season with a brilliant unbeaten 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the effort wasn't enough to propel Lucknow beyond a seventh-place finish, leaving the team and its captain with plenty to prove this year.
Despite these recent hurdles, Pant’s overall body of work remains among the most elite in the competition's history. Known for his audacious and fearless batting style, he has amassed over 3,200 runs in more than 110 appearances, maintaining a career strike rate above 145. With two centuries and 19 half-centuries to his name, he remains one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in the world, and his return to fitness is one of the most anticipated storylines of the new season.