Rishabh Pant [Source: AFP]The Lucknow Super Giants had a poor start to the IPL 2026, as Axar Patel's Delhi Capitals steamrolled them by six wickets. Batting first, the Super Giants huffed and puffed to a modest total of 141 runs, with T Natarajan dismantling them with a sensational three-wicket haul. Although Delhi Capitals lost KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka in quick succession, Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten, propelling them to their first win of the season. Talking about Aiden Markram, the experienced South African opener was dismissed for eleven runs, as Axar Patel castled him in the sixth over. After departing cheaply in his first IPL 2026 outing, Markram opened up his role in the team, indirectly dissing his LSG captain Rishabh Pant. After his team's crushing defeat, Pant faced the wrath of owner Sanjiv Goenka, who was caught having an animated chat with him at the Ekana Stadium. Aiden Markram demoted; Rishabh Pant opened for LSG vs DCWhile Lucknow Super Giants made a group-stage exit from the IPL 2025, the opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram was one of the rare positives for them. Marsh undoubtedly had his best IPL season, scoring 627 runs at an average of 48.23 and a strike rate of 163.71. Markram complemented him perfectly at the top, accumulating 445 runs across 13 outings. However, Marsh and Markram's exploits at the top meant skipper Rishabh Pant had to bat against the old ball in the middle overs. The southpaw struggled to get going against spin, scoring only 269 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.45. Also Read: Should Rishabh Pant Continue To Open For LSG In IPL 2026?As his entry adversely affected his performance in the tournament, Pant decided to kickstart the IPL 2026 as an opening batter. He made the bold decision in order to exploit the powerplay field restrictions and regain his mojo in the IPL after a horrible last season. Opening in T20s is easier than batting at 3, reckons Aiden MarkramSpeaking to the broadcasters, Aiden Markram highlighted that the openers are aware of the challenges they would face against the new ball, which is not exactly the case for someone who bats at 3 or 4. He also openly admitted to enjoying his role as an opener, despite the Rishabh Pant-led LSG management demoting him to number three. "There is a slight difference, I feel. Naturally, opening, you kind of know exactly what to expect upfront, how they're going to attack you. At number three some 3-4 overs into the innings, some things pan out and maybe you don't get quite what you expected. But, I enjoy opening. I enjoy top three, especially in this format of the game. I think it's nice to try to bat as much as you can out there in the middle," Aiden Markram said. Aiden Markram vs Rishabh Pant: Who should ideally open for LSG in IPL 2026?Rishabh Pant's numbers in the middle overs dipped significantly in 2025, as the left-hander managed only 148 runs at a mediocre average of 18.5. His spin-hitting woes were evident in the IPL 2025, which is why LSG decided to swap his position with Aiden Markram. Having said that, the skipper will be under pressure to deliver, as a string of failures could flip the script and result in Markram's promotion once again. Also Read: Faf du Plessis' RCB Siding Doesn't Sit Well With CSK Fans; Slammed Brutally
