As the IPL 2026 season approaches, kicking off on March 28, only the first 20 match schedules have been made public due to ongoing state elections. In light of this, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has shared insights into the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) captain, Rishabh Pant, emphasizing that he perceives the game in a way that differs significantly from the norm. Chopra noted, “Many of us often overlook the unique perspective Rishabh Pant brings to the field. During his time in Test cricket, he had discussions with Rahul Dravid, who served as Head Coach. Dravid expressed concerns about Pant’s batting style. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Pant has a distinct approach to the game that sets him apart from conventional players.” He further expressed optimism about Pant’s willingness to adapt, stating that the left-handed batsman recognizes the need for adjustments in his game. Chopra highlighted Pant’s outreach to the legendary Yuvraj Singh as a sign of his desire for mentorship and growth. “What truly inspires me is his recognition that he needs to evolve. He understands that something isn’t quite right and is actively seeking a blueprint for improvement. His initiative to consult Yuvraj Singh for guidance is a promising indicator of his commitment to growth. Given his immense talent and skills, it’s a shame he hasn’t yet dominated white-ball cricket as he should,” Chopra remarked. LSG will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign with a match against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 1 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
**IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals: Full Squads**
**Lucknow Super Giants:** Mitchell Marsh, Mohammed Shami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Aiden Markram, Avesh Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Himmar Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Josh Inglis (WK), M Siddharth, Moshin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Arjun Tendulkar, Akash Singh, Abdul Samad, Arshin Kulkarni, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuvanshi, Mayank Yadav, M Choudhary (WK), Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi.
**Delhi Capitals:** David Miller, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, KL Rahul (WK), Karun Nair, Axar Patel (C), Ben Duckett (WK), Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Rana, Kyle Jamieson, Lungi Ngidi, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Pathum Nissanka, Ajay Mandal, Prithvi Shaw, Ashutosh Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel (WK), Vipraj Nigam, Tripurana Vijay, Sahil Parakh, Madhav Tiwari.