Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged Rishabh Pant to stick with the opening role despite his failure against Delhi Capitals. Leading Lucknow Super Giants, Pant chose to move up the order, breaking last season’s successful opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. It was a bold call from the skipper, who walked out with intent, looking to set the tone early. However, things didn’t go his way as he was run out in an unfortunate mix-up after scoring just 7. His early departure triggered a collapse, leaving LSG struggling for momentum. The batting unit never quite recovered from the setback and were eventually bowled out for 141, falling well short of a competitive total on the night.
Ashwin expressed disappointment over both Pant’s dismissal and his uncertainty about continuing as an opener, urging him to show conviction. He called on the team management to back Pant in the role and allow him to play with freedom at the top throughout the season.
“It was very unfortunate the way Rishabh Pant got out, and even more unfortunate the way he talked after the match. He was asked whether he would open the innings, and he replied 50-50. I request you with folded hands, please open in every match. Justin Langer, or whoever is there in the LSG team management, should go and tell Rishabh Pant to go out there and play freely in the powerplay. Go and play the entire 14 games as an opener,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
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Ashwin further explained his reasoning, pointing out that batting later allows bowlers to plan better against Pant, making a strong case for him to continue opening for both his own benefit and the team’s balance.
“If he comes into bat after the powerplay, the bowlers have a strategy to stop him. So, I think he should open the batting, for himself and for LSG as well,” he added.
Rishabh 50-50 on opening the innings again
Pant has opened the innings in 23 T20 matches, where he has a strike rate of 159 with a century and five fifties, but after an unfortunate dismissal against the Delhi Capitals, the LSG skipper isn’t sure whether he will be facing the new ball throughout the entire course of the Indian Premier League this season.
“It’s a 50-50 call,” Pant said when asked if he would continue opening throughout instead of the crack pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh.
