Sourav Ganguly raises concerns over Rishabh Pant’s T20 adaptation and leadership – Sourav Ganguly Analyzes Rishabh Pant’s Struggles in T20 Cricket

The Weight of Expectation: Ganguly Evaluates Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant remains one of the most naturally gifted talents in modern cricket. However, his journey over the last two years has been marked by inconsistency, fueling intense debate regarding his role in the shortest format of the game. Following a record-breaking IPL auction deal that saw him join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crore, the pressure on the wicketkeeper-batter has reached an all-time high. Former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly has recently weighed in on the matter, providing an honest assessment of Pant’s current struggles.

A Challenging Tenure at the Helm

Pant’s transition into a leadership role with LSG has not yielded the results the franchise hoped for. Across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, Pant led the side in 28 matches, managing only 10 victories against 18 defeats. With a win percentage of approximately 35.7%, the team’s standings—finishing 7th in 2025 and dead last in 2026—reflect the broader difficulties the team has faced under his command.

Leadership often acts as a double-edged sword. While some cricketers thrive under the added responsibility, others find the equilibrium between captaincy duties and personal form difficult to maintain. For Pant, the captaincy appears to have hindered his ability to perform with the bat at his usual explosive standards.

The Statistical Reality

The numbers illustrate a clear downward trend in Pant’s individual performance. In the 2025 season, he managed 269 runs at an average of 24.45. The 2026 season saw a slight improvement, with 312 runs across 13 innings at an average of 28.36. While these figures are respectable for many, they fall short of the high bar set by Pant throughout his career. His overall IPL average of 33.60—amassed over 136 innings—remains significantly higher than his output during his tenure as LSG captain, signaling a period of prolonged difficulty.

Ganguly’s Perspective: Talent vs. Adaptation

In a candid interview with the Times of India, Sourav Ganguly acknowledged Pant’s undeniable class while addressing his limitations in the T20 arena. Ganguly noted, “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. I hope he does because he’s got enormous talent.”

The veteran leader emphasized that while the honor of captaincy is immense, it comes with a heavy burden that players must learn to navigate. “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 honour. So you will have to get that balance right. You do it, or somebody else will,” Ganguly added.

The Road Ahead

Beyond the tactical and mental pressures of leadership, Pant has also faced the physical toll of repeated injuries, which have frequently disrupted his rhythm. For a player who relies on timing and aggressive intent, maintaining physical momentum is crucial. As he looks to rebound, the cricketing world watches closely to see if he can reclaim the aggressive, match-winning form that defined his early career. With the scrutiny of a record-breaking contract and the demands of franchise leadership, Pant faces a pivotal phase in his professional life, one that will test his resilience as much as his technical prowess.

While his Test match credentials remain unquestioned, the transition to being a consistent T20 match-winner remains the next great challenge for the southpaw. Whether he can recalibrate his approach and find the necessary balance remains one of the most compelling narratives in Indian cricket.