Mumbai: Lucknow Supergiants are once again under pressure after losing six of their eight matches in IPL 2026, leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.While the team’s struggling top order has contributed heavily to the poor campaign, much of LSG’s woes revolve around the captain’s inconsistent form. Rishabh Pantwho was bought for a record Rs 27 crore before the season.Pant had already had a disappointing IPL 2025, scoring 269 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16 – his lowest return in the tournament since his debut season in 2016.
This season, the left-handed wicket-keeper batsman has scored just 189 runs in eight matches at an average of 27.00 and a strike rate of 126.84 with just one fifty.Pant started the season opening the innings before moving back to the middle order. Despite training under the former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh As he tries to regain his white-ball form ahead of the tournament, questions continue to surround his performances.However, LSG’s bowling coach Bharat Irwin dismissed suggestions that the price of the IPL was affecting Pant mentally.“I don’t think the price tag has anything to do with it. It’s just a question, if you really look at his whole batting, if you look at the second game we played, he took us over the line. And I’m not too worried about his form. It’s just a question of an innings before he gets his form back,” Irwin said at the pre-header press conference against LSG. Mumbai Indians At the Wankhede StadiumIrwin also spoke about the veteran fast bowler. Muhammad ShamiWho has taken seven wickets in eight matches this season.“I think Shami’s mindset is very, very clear. On multiple occasions, he said, the choice is not in my hands. But it is in my hands to do good. And that’s exactly what he’s doing,” Irwin said.On pace bowler Mayank Yadav, Irwin confirmed that the youngster is fully fit.“If you ask me if he is fit I would say yes, he is fit and ready to go now. He is bowling fast and he is back to his old ways from where he started.Irwin also praised young pacers Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan for stepping up this season, while crediting Shami’s experience to help guide the attack. On the injury-prone Mohsin, Irwin said the franchise has carefully managed his workload and fitness over the past few months to ensure a strong comeback.
