Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth predicted that Rishabh Pant might not play the rest of the IPL 2026 season after suffering an elbow injury during the clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday.
The LSG skipper was hit on his elbow by RCB’s fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and he was seen wincing in a lot of pain. Pant had to retire hurt after scoring a solitary run after three balls.
After receiving medical treatment, Pant returned to the field but was dismissed after facing three more deliveries and without adding anything to run-tally. Mukul Choudhary then took the gloves in place of Pant in RCB’s batting innings.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Rishabh Pant doesn’t look like he’ll play the rest of the season. LSG are a horrendous side. Only their bowling is pretty good. But it’s been five matches now, and their batting doesn’t look like it’ll fire at all. Everyone says LSG hasn’t given away 200 yet. But they have to score 200 to concede it back, which they never do.”
Srikkanth slammed LSG’s batting after the visitors were bowled out for 146. None of the LSG batters could convert their starts against RCB.
He added, “LSG batted horribly, and it was unwatchable. Markram is a dirty cricketer. Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Markram should all be benched. Enough of waiting for them to score big. Make all three sit and bring in new guys as replacements. Anyway, they have no chance of qualifying from now.”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player said LSG are dependent on uncapped batters like Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary, and Abdul Samad to save them from blushes.
“Imagine LSG are dependent on Ayush Badoni, Mukul Choudhary and Abdul Samad to save them. That’s the kind of team they are at the moment. They are definitely out of contention already. They don’t give any confidence that they are going to fire with the bat,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Punjab Kings at New Chandigarh on Sunday.
