Faf du Plessis, former South Africa captain, suggests that Rishabh Pant should bat at the No. 3 position in order to maximize his impact in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Du Plessis believes that Pant’s best performances have come when he has batted at No. 3, citing his unbeaten 118 in Lucknow Super Giants’ last league match. He also mentioned that with Pant at No. 3, Nicholas Pooran could move down to No. 4 in the batting order.
Pant, who was bought for a record Rs. 27 crore in IPL 2025, had a disappointing first season as captain of LSG, finishing seventh in the standings. Du Plessis emphasized the need for Pant to control his high-risk approach and aim for consistency in his performances. He highlighted Pant’s immense talent but also noted that he needs to have a clear game plan and method in T20 cricket.
Du Plessis pointed out that Pant’s T20 strike rate of around 130 is surprising given his shot-making abilities, suggesting that Pant needs to curb his attacking approach and play according to the merit of the ball. He emphasized the importance of having a game plan and blueprint for T20 cricket in order to achieve consistency and success. The IPL 2026 season kicks off with defending champions RCB facing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opener, while LSG will start their campaign against Delhi Capitals on April 1.
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