India, April 1 -- All the speculation around who would bat at No. 3 for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2026 lasted only until the third over of their match against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, as captain Rishabh Pant sprang a surprise.

For just the second time in his IPL career, Pant walked out to open the batting for Lucknow, a move that instantly grabbed attention given his established role in the middle order. The decision hinted at a tactical tweak from the team management, possibly aimed at maximising the left-right combination at the top. However, the bold call ended in sheer misfortune following a freak twist of fate.

It happened on the final ball of the second over when Mitchell Marsh punched a f...