Pant’s promotion means that LSG has opted to break up its prolific opening partnership of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, with the South African Markram moving down the order. Markram and Marsh put on 574 runs at an average of 47.83 and run-rate of 9.13.
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Pant’s foray in the opening spot proved unsuccessful on first try, scoring seven runs from nine balls before getting run-out at the non-striker’s end after backing up too far.
Pant, meanwhile, is relatively unfamiliar to the opening role in IPL. He batted predominantly at the number four position for LSG in 2025, and his one innings of note — 118 not out against Royal Challengers Bengaluru — came at number three. He opened in only one match, scoring 21 from 18 balls opening against Gujarat Titans in Lucknow in Marsh’s absence.
Prior to that, his only other opening experience in IPL came in his debut season in 2016. Pant opened the batting in four matches, scoring 104 runs in 76 balls. His only innings of note was 69 from 40 balls against Gujarat Lions.
Pant has also opened five times for India in T20Is, scoring 71 from 52 balls in that time.
Published on Apr 01, 2026
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