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The excitement around the Indian Premier League (IPL) is already reaching fever pitch as the 2026 season draws closer. With franchises finalizing strategies and fans eagerly waiting for the opening games, attention has shifted to the star players who could shape the tournament. Every IPL season brings massive expectations, especially for high-profile players and captains who carry the hopes of their teams. With big contracts, leadership responsibilities and the spotlight of millions of fans, pressure becomes an unavoidable part of the competition.
IPL 2026 promises to deliver another thrilling chapter in the league’s history. Several young talents are ready to make their mark, while established stars will once again aim to dominate the tournament. However, with expectations comes responsibility, and some players will face greater scrutiny than others as they look to prove their value to their franchises. According to former South African captain Faf du Plessis, one particular player will be carrying the heaviest burden heading into the new season.
Faf du Plessis picks a player who will be under intense pressure in IPL 2026
During a discussion on Star Sports, Du Plessis shared his views on which cricketer could be under the most pressure in IPL 2026. The veteran batter pointed towards Rishabh Pant, who leads Lucknow Super Giants.
Du Plessis explained that Pant faces a unique challenge because he must deliver both as a batter and as a captain. According to him, the expectations surrounding Pant have grown due to his leadership role and the price-tag pressure that often accompanies star players in the IPL. He noted that some players thrive under the pressure of big expectations, while others struggle to find rhythm when the spotlight intensifies.
“For me, he is probably the player in the IPL who’s under the most pressure this season. We always talk about the price-tag pressure. Some guys flourish under that price-tag pressure, and some guys don’t. The last season for him was a real tough season. The team struggled and his runs also struggled, the way that he batted,” said Du Plessis.
The former South African skipper also pointed out that Lucknow endured a difficult campaign in IPL 2025, which further increases the responsibility on Pant’s shoulders. The franchise finished seventh on the points table and failed to qualify for the playoffs, making the upcoming season crucial for both the captain and the team.
“So there is all that pressure when he comes into this season, and the expectation on what the team is going to do. With a batting-heavy team, how are they going to maximize the bowling? If he is scoring runs as a captain, it takes pressure off you in the first instance, but then there is the second instance, which is the team, and last year, both of those had big red crosses to their names,” added the former South African skipper.
Lucknow will begin their IPL 2026 journey with a home clash against Delhi Capitals on April 1, a match that will immediately put the spotlight on Pant’s leadership.
Also READ: IPL 2026: BCCI announces schedule for the first phase; RCB to take on SRH in the opening contest
Expectations high from the star wicketkeeper batter
Pant’s individual performance last season also contributed to the pressure surrounding him. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batter scored 269 runs in 13 innings during IPL 2025 at an average of 24.45, numbers that fell below the standards fans have come to expect from him.
For a player known for his explosive batting and fearless approach, the season proved to be a challenging one. The struggles with the bat coincided with Lucknow’s inconsistent results, making it a campaign the team would prefer to forget.
However, Pant ended the season on a strong note with a brilliant unbeaten 118 off 61 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league match. That innings reminded fans of his match-winning ability and offered a glimpse of what he can achieve when in form.
As IPL 2026 approaches, expectations from Pant remain sky-high. Supporters of the Lucknow franchise will be hoping their captain rediscovers his best form and leads the side with confidence.
Also READ: Sanjay Bangar names his playing XI of Punjab Kings for IPL 2026
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
