Former India all-rounder and 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh has revealed that his new protege, Rishabh Pant, is determined to work on his batting struggles in white-ball cricket and make a strong comeback to the Indian team.
Pant last played for India in white-ball cricket in August 2024, during the tour of Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI and T20 series. He featured in just three games and scored a total of 57 runs, with 51 of those coming in the T20Is.
Even though Pant was part of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning squad in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, he did not get a game, with KL Rahul continuing as the first-choice keeper-batter.
Pant’s Determination to Bounce Back
“He is someone who wants to move forward with his cricket and do better. He wants to perform and get back into white-ball cricket,” Yuvraj said during a podcast with Sports Tak.
The 26-year-old, who holds the record as the most expensive buy in IPL history, was seen training with Yuvraj in Mumbai in March, working specifically on his batting and mental toughness.
“If I can push him mentally, then I believe he will be in a better space. And I feel like he is in a better space, and this IPL you will definitely see a different Rishabh Pant,” Yuvraj added.
How Yuvraj Guides India’s Next Generation
Yuvraj has mentored several current Indian stars, including Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson the Lucknow Super Giants, he managed just one century and one half-century, averaging 24.45 with a strike rate of 133. In India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning campaign, Pant scored 171 runs in 8 innings at an average of 24.42 and a strike rate of 127.61.
Eyes on the IPL Comeback
Pant will next be in action in the IPL when Lucknow Super Giants face Sunrisers Hyderabad on 5 April. Yuvraj is confident that the time spent mentoring Pant will show results on the field, with the young batter returning stronger, sharper, and more consistent.