Mohammad Kaif opens up on Rishabh Pant’s form ahead of LSG v RCB IPL 2026 match

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has noted that Rishabh Pant has been getting dismissed in different ways and there is no set pattern in his dismissals in this season of IPL 2026. Pant has struggled with his individual form and thus has failed to lead Lucknow Super Giants from the front.

Pant was dismissed by Mumbai Indians part-time spinner Will Jacks in the last game when he was trying to play a cut shot but could only manage an edge to wicket-keeper, Ryan Rickelton, after scoring 15 runs off 10 balls.

The LSG skipper has managed 204 runs in nine matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 128.30.

Mohammad Kaif said on Star Sports, “Absolutely, he has that ability. But his recent form hasn’t been good. The team is losing, and mentally you do feel pressure as a captain when the team is losing, the scores are not coming from your bat, and things are not going your way.”

“He’s getting out in all kinds of ways. It’s not like there’s one particular weakness or pattern. Sometimes he gets out while playing the pull shot, sometimes even on full toss deliveries. In the last match, Will Jacks dismissed him, and Will Jacks is not even known as a major bowler. It was also a pitch where the ball wasn’t turning much, yet he still got out.”

Kaif highlighted that the opposition bowlers are planning well against Pant as they are not bowling in the hitting arc against the left-hander.

“One thing bowlers are planning well against him is to keep the ball away from his arc. He plays the leg side very well, so bowlers tend to bowl wide lines to him. If you look at the last match, Will Jacks also bowled over the stumps with a wide line. Rishabh Pant tried to cut it, got an inside edge, and was caught behind.”

The former UP batter reckons Pant will be the cynosure of all eyes ahead of RCB clash on Wednesday.

“So his form is definitely not great right now. But people still hope he performs because whenever he performs, Lucknow Super Giants usually wins as well. So I believe all eyes will be on him in this match. The last time these two teams faced each other, he scored a century against RCB.”

LSG will take on RCB on Wednesday.