Rishabh Pant against SRH (Source: AP Photos)
Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in the history of the IPL when LSG decided to rope him for the 2025 season. He got 27 Crore, and a lot is expected from the wicketkeeper batter.
As the season has started, Rishabh Pant is batting at number 4 for LSG, but has not been in great form, and it has raised questions of his utility in the middle order in the shortest format of the game. Thus, here are the few reasons why he should try himself out at the opening position in the remainder of IPL 2025.
1. Rishabh Pant's Failure To Find Boundaries From Onset
Rishabh Pant's form in the shortest format of the game, has been a cause of worry for a long time now. He fell for a six-ball duck in the opening match against DC, and then on the flat deck at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the batter could just manage 15 runs off 15 balls.
Pant's overall performance at number 4 has been decent in IPL with an average of 37.04 and strike-rate of 146.55. However, he has not been able to get going from the onset, and struggled in T20 World Cup 2024 as well.
It makes his position at number 4 questionable, and this struggle forced India to try him out at number 3 and as an opener in T20Is. So far, Pant has struggled big time in middle order and a move to top of the order could help his cause.
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2. Aiden Markram's Poor Returns As Opener
Aiden Markram has not fired in the two matches as an opener for LSG. His choice as an opener in first place was quite surprising as he has played in the middle order in T20s in the last few years, and it is a place where he has been successful. Thus, having him at number 4 could help him get among the runs, and the swap in batting position between Pant and Markram can help LSG utilise both players better.
Aiden Markram At Number 4 In T20Is
| Criterion | Data |
| Innings | 22 |
| Runs | 650 |
| Average | 36.11 |
| Strike-Rate | 146.72 |
At number 4, Aiden Markram has played most of his cricket for South Africa in T20Is. As shown in the table, his average and strike-rate are quite healthy and has nicely settled in the middle order in recent past. Thus, putting him in his preferred T20 spot might help him unleash his full potential.
3. Rishabh Pant Can Make Use Of Powerplay As Opener
Rishabh Pant's strike-rate has been a cause of worry in T20s. In the second game against SRH, he scored his 15 runs at a run-a-ball, and was trying too hard to hit big shots. Thus, having him as opener can help him with more time in the middle, and he can use the fielding restrictions to gain some confidence and then kick on from there.
It will also help LSG to have a left-hander alongside the right-hander Mitchell Marsh at the top of the order and if Rishabh Pant gets going, LSG's top 3 can destroy any bowling attack in the world.
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