IPL 2026: Faf du Plessis Discusses the Pressure on Rishabh Pant

The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will start on March 28, 2026. As the tournament begins, many fans will watch Lucknow Super Giants and their star player Rishabh Pant. Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, but he did not perform well in the 2025 season. He will be hoping to do much better in IPL 2026.

Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina share views on Rishabh Pant’s role in IPL 2026

Former South Africa international Faf du Plessis came forward and talked about the pressure that would be on star batter Rishabh Pant. Especially since he would have to justify the massive price tag put on him by the franchise. 

"For me, he is probably the player in the IPL who's under the most pressure this season. We always talk about the price-tag pressure. Some guys flourish under that price-tag pressure, and some guys don't. The last season for him was a real tough season. The team struggled and his runs also struggled, the way that he batted. So there is all that pressure when he comes into this season, and the expectation on what the team is going to do,” Du Plessis told Star Sports. 

In the same discussion, former India cricketer Suresh Raina said that Rishabh Pant should bat at number three in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. He also suggested that Nicholas Pooran should come in to bat at number four for the team.

"If four batters get out, there is a sort of commotion down the order. Abdul Samad has come after winning the Ranji Trophy, but when you chase 210 or 220, I feel they will have to tweak a little there. Get Rishabh Pant at No. 3 and play Nicholas Pooran at No. 4. Abdul Samad is at No. 5, and you will have to fit Ayush Badoni in between. You have a left-arm spinner in Shahbaz Ahmed, who also bats very well," Raina said. 

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