Robin Uthappa Urges Rishabh Pant to Bat Higher in IPL 2026
Uthappa's Call for Pant to Open the Batting
Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has passionately encouraged Rishabh Pant to consider batting higher up the order in the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Uthappa believes that since Pant's return from his accident, he has yet to fully demonstrate his capabilities, and that opening or batting at number three could help him reach his peak performance.
In a recent discussion on his YouTube channel, Uthappa expressed his disappointment regarding Pant's choice to bat lower in the order for the Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2025. Despite being the captain, Pant often batted at number five, which Uthappa feels limits his effectiveness. He pointed out that Pant excels when he has the freedom during the powerplay overs, where field restrictions enable him to take charge. "Bro, please open; you will revolutionize Indian T20 cricket," Uthappa remarked, referencing Pant's impressive unbeaten 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season when he was elevated to number three.
Pant's overall performance in IPL 2025 was underwhelming, accumulating 269 runs across 13 innings with an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16. Nevertheless, his explosive century while batting at number three reinforced Uthappa's assertion that Pant is most formidable when he faces more deliveries early in the innings. Uthappa emphasized that once Pant settles in, he becomes nearly impossible to contain, and batting lower in the order diminishes his impact.
Uthappa also shared insights on Sanju Samson, advocating for him to open the batting in the IPL. Previously a middle-order player for Rajasthan Royals, Samson was traded to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2026 auction. Uthappa believes that alongside Abhishek Sharma, Samson is among the top Indian batsmen capable of delivering explosive starts. He argued that even batting at number three would not do justice to Samson's talent, as his ability to unsettle bowlers and dominate once established makes him an ideal candidate for the opening slot.
Uthappa concluded that having Samson at the top could significantly alter the Chennai Super Kings' strategy, while promoting Pant could redefine the batting approach for Lucknow Super Giants. He stressed the importance of both players maximizing their potential by capitalizing on the powerplay overs instead of entering more challenging situations later in the innings.