Pant must step up!

Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant’s woeful form with the bat and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer’s sublime touch have made Sunday’s mid-table clash an engrossing contest — one that could decisively shape the fortunes of either side as the IPL enters its business end.

Iyer’s understanding of game situations and his evolution as a captain, without compromising on his batting, have served PBKS well. In their last game, the PBKS captain struck his fourth half-century of the season, helping his side to a creditable fourth spot on the table with 13 points from 10 games.

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Pant, on the other hand, has endured a disappointing run with the bat, registering six single-digit scores for a total of 110 runs in 10 matches. His only noteworthy knock this season has been a 63 against CSK. Pant’s poor form has placed his side in a virtual must-win situation against PBKS, with LSG currently sixth on the table with 10 points.

Iyer, who played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaign last season but was released before the mega auction, was snapped up by PBKS for a staggering R26.75 crore. Since then, he has made an immediate impact with sharp tactical leadership.

Once vulnerable against the short ball, Iyer has made notable technical adjustments to overcome that long-standing weakness. With all-rounder Glenn Maxwell ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a fractured finger, Iyer will have to find a suitable replacement, something easier said than done. 

Iyer could turn to Azmatullah Omarzai, the yet-to-feature Aaron Hardie, or even Xavier Bartlett, depending on conditions. With a well-set top and middle order featuring Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera, and Shashank Singh, PBKS’s batting looks solid.

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