Rishabh Pant had a shaky start to IPL 2026 [Source: AP]Rishabh Pant's attempt to turn his Lucknow Super Giants career around went south on their IPL 2026 opening match against the Delhi Capitals as he opened the innings with Mitchell Marsh. This is after he batted in the middle order last season, scoring only 269 runs, including an unbeaten 118 in the last match of their IPL 2025 campaign.Opening for the first time, he fell prey to the most unfortunate forms of dismissals as a Mitchell Marsh straight drive brushed off Mukesh Kumar's fingers and rattled the stumps. Pant was stranded outside the popping crease and could only laugh off the situation on his way back to the pavilion.Despite another failure with the bat in LSG colours, the former teammate-turned-expert has made a special request to Pant, folding his hands in front of everyone openly.CSK legend's special request to Rishabh PantFollowing Rishabh Pant's scratchy 7 off 9 against DC on Wednesday night, his former teammate and CSK legend, Ravichandran Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to analyse the LSG vs DC match. After Pant refused to disclose the long-term plans regarding his position in the post-match interview, Ashwin intervened and asked him to stay at the top.According to Ravichandran Ashwin, it is in the best interests of the 28-year-old and the Super Giants that they persist with Pant's promotion to the top of the lineup."It was very unfortunate the way Rishabh Pant got out, and even more unfortunate the way he talked after the match. He was asked whether he would open the innings, and he replied 50-50," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, Ash Ki Baat."I request you with folded hands, please open in every match. Justin Langer, or whoever is there in the LSG team management, should go and tell Rishabh Pant to go out there and play freely in the powerplay. Go and play the entire 14 games as an opener," he added.Also Read: Sanjiv Goenka Scolds Rishabh Pant After IPL Loss; Ignites KL Rahul MemoriesRishabh Pant's desperate attempt to rescue LSG careerThe southpaw was bought by LSG for a whooping INR 27 crore in the IPL 2025 auction in an attempt to make him their long-term leader after parting ways with KL Rahul. The expectations to carry the team on his shoulders were high and Pant was also coming off a good IPL 2024 season, followed by the T20 World Cup win.However, after a 269-run season — 118 of which came in a single innings — Pant opened the innings in the IPL for only the second time since IPL 2016. He has scored 132 runs in 6 innings, while opening the batting in the IPL at a strike rate of 128.02.In a stacked top-order, with names like Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran around him, it will be crucial for Pant to do well and lead LSG from the front in IPL 2026.Pant and LSG eye big win over SRHFollowing the first round of fixtures played by every team in IPL 2026, LSG sit at number 8 with a -1.397 net run rate. After managing to score only 141 runs at home, their bowlers bowled well to reduce DC to 26/4 in 4.3 overs, putting the opposition in a peculiar position.However, the 119-run partnership between Sameer Rizvi (70*) and Tristan Stubbs (39*) staged a 6-wicket win for the Capitals to go 3rd in the table. Up next, LSG will face the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5 in Hyderabad. Going into the clash, both teams will be looking to open their points tally in IPL 2026.Also read: Pakistan Legend Revolts Against Mohsin Naqvi's PCB Over Naseem Shah Row
