Rajasthan Royals dominated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs in an IPL 2026 thriller at Ekana Stadium, exposing captain Rishabh Pant’s ongoing woes. Pant flopped with the bat and in leadership, drawing criticism from Sanjay Bangar over his reckless shot selection.
Appearing on Star Sports, Bangar was blunt. ‘Pant looked off from ball one. Those first three deliveries—he went across the line every time against swing. With his experience and international runs, he’ll rue those decisions. His body language screamed disappointment; he knew it was poor cricket. Clarity in approach early on will turn things around for him.’
The analysis resonated with viewers, as LSG’s chase faltered spectacularly. Pant’s early dismissal set a negative tone, amplifying concerns about his form and team strategy.
Bangar then previewed MI vs CSK at Wankhede. ‘Mumbai’s buzzing with confidence. De Kock and Varma’s tons show batting depth. Bumrah’s swing with the new ball is gold, spinners Gajner and Santner brilliant. Jacks’ inclusion perfects the lineup.’
Regarding Rohit Sharma, sidelined by injury recently but seen training, Bangar insisted: ‘Get Rohit in, full or impact role. Strong openings define success this IPL. Pair him with de Kock to protect SKY and middle order— that’s the winning formula.’
As MI eyes a strong showing against CSK, Rohit’s return could be the game-changer, blending experience with youthful firepower for a balanced assault.
