Justin Langer Teases Rishabh Pant’s Batting Role Before Delhi Capitals Match

Lucknow Super Giants begin their IPL 2026 campaign on Wednesday. The fixture pits captain Rishabh Pant against his former team, Delhi Capitals.

Pant’s first season in Lucknow

Pant joined Lucknow for a record INR 27 crore last season. Expectations were high after that move.

He finished the season with 269 runs. One unbeaten 118 accounted for almost half those runs.

His strike rate stood at 133.17. Several promising starts did not convert into consistent scores.

Langer keeps batting plan under wraps

Head coach Justin Langer refused to disclose where Pant would bat. He said he would not reveal the plan before the game.

Langer explained that advancing the information would give Delhi Capitals an unfair preparation advantage. He asked reporters to wait until match time.

Backing from the coach

Langer backed Pant to perform under pressure. He praised Pant’s aggressive mindset and competitiveness.

He referred to Pant’s memorable innings against RCB last year. Langer also noted the fierce competition in India’s white-ball setup after the World Cup win.

The coach added that strong support around Pant would help him. He believes top performers will emerge when it matters.

Justin Langer teases but would not clarify Rishabh Pant’s batting role for the Delhi Capitals match. Fans and analysts will watch the opening game closely.