Rishabh Pant told to ‘take some responsibility’ ahead of LSG vs DC in IPL 2026; 'That's no way to lead a team'

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant was told to take up "some responsibility" if the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise want to better their performances in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Having finished seventh in IPL 2025, LSG started their campaign in the 19th season against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

Leading LSG for the first time last year, Pant struggled both with the bat and his leadership skills. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, who saw Pant from close quarters IPL 2025, felt that the Indian wicketkeeper-batter should take more responsibility by batting up the order. Pant, who was with Delhi Capitals till the 2024 season was roped in by LSG for ₹27 crores.

"He is too good a player to hang around at No.5,6, or 7, in T20 cricket. Rishabh Pant needs to be there at the top of the order, and he needs to own the popping crease. I don't know what number he batted against us (DC) last year here, but he just kept dropping himself down the order. That's no way to lead a team. Take some responsibility, control the game, and go out there and win it, is is not about money," Pietersen said on Jio Star on Wednesday.

For the unknown, Pietersen served as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, before stepping down just before the 2026 season. Heaping confidence on Pant, the 45-year-old felt that the Indian will show the more responsibility once he starts batting up the order.

“Against us, last year, I think he was batting at No.6 or No.7, that's not the place for Rishabh, I think he just needs to own the responsibility, and listening to him talk, I feel more like this is the guy who is going to be a better leader, understands his team a little bit more, and he will show that responsibility this season by batting up the order,” Pietersen added.

The incident happened on the final ball of the third over when Marsh hit Mukesh Kumar straight at the bowler. The ball came at a good height for Mukesh who tried to catch the ball. Instead, the ball hit Mukesh's fingertip to crash onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w), Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar