New Delhi:Today, April 1, the Lucknow Super Giants will start their 2026 season against the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Since their debut in 2022, the Super Giants have played well, making the playoffs twice but never making it to the final.
This time, they want to put on a show that will help them get closer to winning their first title. And if they have to beat the other teams in the playoffs and the final, their new bowling and batting lineups will need to work together. Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant are two of the Super Giants' most important batters. Both of them can win games, but the first one is also the most expensive player in the tournament's history. But where should they bat?
Sources say Pant is likely to bat at No. 3.A few days ago, PTI reported that an IPL source said their 27-crore captain is best for No. 3, with Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Marsh at the top. Nicholas Pooran, who did so well in this spot last season, would have to move down the order.
Langer keeps the order of the batting cards close to his chest.In the press conference before their first game, LSG head coach Justin Langer didn't give away much about the batting order. "I'm not telling you. Honestly, I'm not going to sit here and tell you where Rishabh Pant is going to bat tomorrow. Thanks for asking, but if you want a straight answer, I'm not telling you where he's going to bat tomorrow because then DC will know where he's going to bat and will have to deal with it tonight, not tomorrow at 7:30. Thanks for asking, though, you'll wait and see like everyone else," said Langer in the press conference.
What did Pooran and Pant do at No. 3 in the IPL 2026?Both batters have some experience batting at No. 3. The spot is very important because the batter has to quickly change his game to fit the situation. If both openers go out early, he might have to anchor the innings. If the start is strong, he might have to go all out to keep the momentum going.
Pooran batted at No. 3 twelve times last year, and Pant did so twice. Pooran hit 466 runs with an average of 46.6 and a strike rate of 201.73. He had five fifties, and his best score was an unbeaten 87 at No. 3.
Pant didn't have a great season last year, but when he batted at No. 3 for the second time, he scored an unbeaten 118 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow. In those two games, he hit 125 runs, with an average of 125 and a strike rate of 186.56.
Pooran and Pant are both at No. 3 in the overall IPL.Since 2019, Pooran has batted at No. 3 18 times. He has hit five fifties and 573 runs. He hit an average of 38.2 runs and a strike rate of 186.64. Since 2017, Pant has played at that spot 15 times. He has scored 558 runs at an average of 46.5, but his strike rate has dropped to 172.75, which is lower than Pooran's.
If LSG thinks Pant is best for No. 3 and he won't be able to do much at other positions, he should bat one down with Pooran moving down.