India, April 1 -- Lucknow Super Giants begin their IPL 2026 campaign on Wednesday, with the spotlight firmly on captain Rishabh Pant as he takes on his former side Delhi Capitals. The contest carries added intrigue given Pant's high-profile move last season, when he was signed for a record INR 27 crore. Expectations were sky-high, but his first year in Lucknow colours didn't quite go to plan.

Pant finished with 269 runs across the season, though nearly half of that came in one unbeaten knock of 118, highlighting the lack of consistency in his outings. His strike rate of 133.17, while decent on paper, didn't quite deliver the impact usually associated with his aggressive style. There were several starts that didn't convert, and phases whe...