Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant has failed to make a mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which has been suspended for a week amidst India-Pakistan tensions at the border.

The wicketkeeper-batter, who was signed for a record sum of INR 27 crore in the mega auction, has aggregated only 128 runs from 10 innings at an average of 12.80 and a strike rate of 99.22, including one half-century.

Pant's struggles have had a direct impact on LSG's performance this season as they have failed to win games where their top order has not clicked.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar weighed in on Pant’s technique in the tournament, saying that the southpaw was confused and had forgotten his strengths.

"We have to recognise that he's still yet to totally understand the white-ball game - both formats, 50-over cricket as well as T20 cricket. A fabulous Test match batter, make no mistake about it, but here in this particular season, what I noticed is that he got out a number of times looking to play shots behind the wicket," Bangar said on Star Sports.

The former India batting coach argued that Pant was at his best when he tried to hit down the wicket and then use his shots behind square to confuse the bowlers.

"Now, you pull out the best innings of Rishabh - where has he looked to score the runs? Drives through covers, step down the track and try to hit the sightscreen or go over midwicket, square. But here he was trying to play those reverse sweeps or shots that are very fine. So as a batter, I think probably he just got caught in that confusion and forgot that his best game, or that he plays at his best, is when he's looking to score down the ground," Bangar said.

"If you do look to score down the ground a lot of times, then all those other areas open up. But if you're only looking to score behind, then whatever is in front of you, you sort of are very much late and not in a great position to play," he concluded.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa had highlighted the exact same thing about Rishabh Pant after LSG’s last game against Punjab Kings.

"The batter in Rishabh Pant is lost in confusion," Uthappa said. "There's a serious lack of clarity. The game where he didn't bat and promoted Abdul Samad ahead of himself showed he had no idea what his role was. He needs the dust to settle - nothing's working for him right now."

According to Uthappa, Pant's best position was No. 3, where he could walk in and attack from the outset.

"Even when India won the World Cup in 2024, Pant batted at No. 3. That's his zone. Just come out and smash. Even against CSK this season, he seemed to enjoy taking the bowling on," Uthappa had added.