Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan highlights intensive preparation Rishabh Pant Talks are going on with experienced Yuvraj Singh ahead of IPL 2026. The Lucknow Super Giants captain finds himself at a crucial juncture in his career, especially after a disappointing IPL 2025 season, where he entered as the most expensive player in the history of the tournament.
Pant's form has declined significantly in white-ball cricket in recent years and he has been able to serve as a backup wicketkeeper in the ODI setup only once in the last three-and-a-half years. He also lost his place in India's T20I squad after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Meanwhile, Yuvraj, who has trained players like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma closely, has also been working with Pant recently, with the aim of helping him rediscover his best form.
“It is very important that Rishabh Pant gets a chance to bat during the powerplay. Nicholas Pooran has batted for him at No. 3, but Rishabh Pant has to be locked in to bat at No. 3 so that he can bat in the powerplay. So, I believe in locking it down. After working with Yuvraj Singh, I spoke to Yuvi and Yuvi told me that more than the technical aspects, he has learned more about the mental side of the game. “The 3-4 hour sessions were dedicated to just talking,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Pant struggled both with the bat and as captain during the IPL 2025 season. He was often seen engaging in heated debates and intense discussions on the field, which did not benefit him or the team. Even Faf du Plessis had questioned his leadership abilities. However, Pathan believes Pant still has enough ability and pedigree to justify his reputation.
Pathan said, “There will be a lot of responsibility on Rishabh Pant. We have to see what he does for this team to qualify. Whatever I have seen of him so far, he looks more fit and focused. He has also spent 4-5 days with Yuvraj Singh. Now we have to see how he brings those learnings on the field. He always looked under pressure last year. It seemed that he was not enjoying cricket. He needs to enjoy cricket. Is.”
He said, “Rishabh Pant has done well in this league, his average is 34 and the strike rate is around 150 and he has scored 3500 runs. It shows that you have shown your dominance in this league. The performances are there, the match-winning innings are there, but it has to be taken forward.”
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