Why is Rishabh Pant not keeping in RCB vs LSG clash of IPL 2026?
(Courtesy : BCCI/IPL)
Rishabh Pant struggled to make an impact with the bat in RCB vs LSG clash of IPL 2026.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) showed why they are potentially the most feared bowling lineup at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Their pacers combined to silence Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top-order.
Making use of the early movement on offer, the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar Salam and Bhuvneshwar Kumar made life difficult for LSG. Despite a late partnership between Mukul Choudhary and Ayush Badoni, LSG were bowled out for just 146 runs.
Why is Mukul Choudhary keeping instead of Rishabh Pant in LSG vs RCB clash of IPL 2026?
Youngster Mukul Choudhary, who displayed why he is highly rated in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), donned the wicket-keeping gloves for the clash against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Captain Rishabh Pant did not take the field in the second innings due to the injury he suffered while batting in the first innings, which even forced him to return to the dugout, by retiring hurt. He was hit on his elbow while attempting to play the pull shot against Josh Hazlewood, forcing him to leave the field.
He later came out to bat but could only score 1 run before losing his wicket to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The injury did look serious for Pant, as he seemed to be in a lot of pain. Given Pant’s long history of injuries, this is a massive matter of concern for both him and the LSG, who desperately need their skipper back.
Nicholas Pooran is performing the duties of the stand-in captain in Pant’s absence. LSG are currently placed seventh on the points table, having won and lost two games each so far.
They will have to bowl exceedingly well to defend this low total, against RCB’s strong batting unit. The home team arrive on the back of a statement victory over five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). RCB have won three and lost only one so far, and look well-placed to register their fourth win of the season.
Why did Mukul Choudhary keep wickets instead of Rishabh Pant?
Rishabh Pant was unable to take the field in the second innings after suffering an elbow injury while batting, so Mukul Choudhary took over wicketkeeping duties.
How did Rishabh Pant get injured?
Pant was hit on his elbow while attempting a pull shot against Josh Hazlewood, forcing him to retire hurt before briefly returning to bat.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.