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The IPL 2026 encounter between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium witnessed a dramatic moment early in the innings as LSG captain Rishabh Pant suffered an unfortunate run-out. Promoting himself to open the batting in a surprising tactical move, Pant’s experiment lasted just 7 runs off 9 balls before ending in a freak dismissal that left fans stunned.
In a bid to take control of the powerplay, Pant walked out to open alongside his partner, aiming to inject early momentum into the innings. However, the plan did not unfold as expected, with luck playing a cruel role in cutting his stay at the crease short.
Rishabh Pant gets dismissed in an unfortunate manner
The incident occurred on the final delivery of the third over bowled by Mukesh Kumar. Aussie star Mitchell Marsh struck the ball firmly back towards the bowler. In an instinctive attempt to grab a return catch, Mukesh managed only a slight fingertip deflection. The ball ricocheted sharply and crashed into the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Pant, who had backed up significantly, was caught well out of his crease with no time to recover. What looked like a routine defensive stroke suddenly turned into a wicket, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the game. The dismissal left Pant visibly disappointed as his rare outing as an opener ended in sheer bad luck rather than a clear mistake.
Here’s the video:
An unfortunate run out for Rishabh Pant to begin the season 😮
Early success for ☝️ 37/1 in5⃣overs
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL)
Opening role remains unfamiliar territory
Pant’s decision to open raised eyebrows even before the dismissal, considering his limited experience at the top of the order in the IPL. Historically, he has been more effective in the middle order, particularly around the No. 3 or No. 4 positions.
During the 2025 season, Pant primarily batted at No. 4 for LSG, where he delivered one of his standout performances — an unbeaten century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His exposure as an opener has been minimal, with only a handful of innings across seasons. Even in his debut IPL season in 2016, he opened in a few matches but soon transitioned into a middle-order role where he found greater consistency.
The decision to promote himself in such a crucial fixture suggested a proactive approach from the LSG skipper, but the execution didn’t yield the desired outcome.
LSG stumble after early setback
Pant’s dismissal triggered a series of setbacks for Lucknow Super Giants, as the team struggled to build momentum. The batting unit faltered under pressure, losing key wickets in quick succession. Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, and Marsh all departed within the first 10 overs. At one stage, LSG found themselves reeling at 71/5, putting the middle order under immense pressure.
