Former England captain Michael Vaughan wants Rishabh Pant to open the innings for Lucknow Super Giants in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025. Pant was dismissed for a six-ball duck in the opening match against Delhi Capitals.

Subsequently, the LSG captain scored a run-a-ball 15 in the second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Thursday when his team was chasing 191 runs for the win.

Pant was dismissed on a high full toss by Harshal Patel as he was caught at short third man by Mohammed Shami.

Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz, “He’s that player, like Pooran, because he can play at all positions – brilliant at the top, at No. 3 or 4, and play a great role at 5 and 6. But, fundamentally, I’ll be looking and asking ‘Could he get me a 120 on his own’? ‘ Yes, he can. Where’s he likely to get a 120 from? At the top of the order.”

Meanwhile, Pant was welcomed to the crease by Pat Cummins with a couple of nasty bouncers, which the southpaw was able to avoid.

“Rishabh coming in at No. 4, outside the powerplay, he can get bounced. Like Pat Cummins today bowling him a couple of beauties which shook him up a bit. Whereas in the powerplay, you can afford to try a bouncer but it’s a huge risk. Because you flap it and it flies and with only two fielders outside the circle, it’s going to go somewhere safe,” said Vaughan in the aforementioned discussion.

“Whereas when all the fielders are out barring four, you can target a player like Rishabh Pant when he comes in at 4 outside the powerplay with two or three short balls. So that’s two or three dot balls that you know you can put in under Rishabh as soon as he gets out there if you are a quick bowler. So, put him at the top of the order. He’s got a 125 in him, get him at the top.”

Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Punjab Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Tuesday.