A shaky start didn’t sit well with Rishabh Pant when Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced Delhi Capitals (DC) in their first match. Though results dipped early, questions linger over whether he’ll open again later this IPL. For now, his spot up front stays unclear.

Choosing to bat first, Rishabh Pant got going but only reached seven before losing his wicket while backing up. A quick rebound off Mukesh Kumar’s bowling, triggered by a drive from Mitchell Marsh, caught him short. Still, numbers show he handles openings well. Across 23 T20 knocks at number one, his strike rate sits near 159, featuring a hundred and five half centuries.

Pant said picking an opener still isn’t clear. Half chance one way, half the other, he noted, maybe going back to Markram and Marsh together up front. When asked about getting out, he stayed level-headed. Letting go of the run-out matters most, since dwelling on things beyond your reach just weighs you down, was how he put it.

“We didn’t secure partnerships”: Rishabh Pant reflects on LSG’s batting struggles

Pant admitted their batsmen failed to build any real momentum. Because of that, choices got made on the back foot. Instead of bringing in someone such as Digvesh Rathi, they opted for Shahbaz Ahmed under the Impact rule. “We did not secure partnerships, so we had to adjust. The situation forced us to use the Impact player option earlier than planned”

Pants weren’t silent on moving Ayush Badoni up instead of Nicholas Pooran. That shift came with a job. steady the game mid-way, particularly once quick dismissals shook things early. Still, LSG stumbled out of the gate and couldn’t find rhythm, finishing on a thin 142.

Mistakes in the field added up, the captain noted, after giving away 16 extra runs during a tight chase. “Extras hurt, but when you’re defending a small total, you tend to push harder, and that sometimes leads to mistakes,” he explained, which often brings more errors. Still, he pointed out how well the bowlers fought despite the pressure.

Falling behind early didn’t stop Delhi’s rhythm. Instead of panicking, they moved Sameer Rizvi up the order, a move that quickly made sense. Hitting runs without pressure, he stayed till the end, scoring 70 from just 47 deliveries. His calm knock pulled the team through. Captain Axar Patel later pointed to their ability to adjust as the real difference.

He said the coaches wanted him at number four all year. A steady mindset, suggested by teammate Tristan Stubbs, kept his rhythm right through the chase. Starting slow was key, he explained, wait for loose deliveries, then score. The idea never changed: stay still at first, strike when the chance comes.