Rishabh Pant’s injury scare against RCB raises fresh concerns as the LSG skipper walks off retired hurt after a painful blow.
Rishabh Pant once again found himself battling fitness concerns during IPL 2026 as the Lucknow Super Giants skipper was forced to retire hurt against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The left-handed batter, who has endured multiple injuries in recent years, walked in following the dismissal of Aiden Markram. However, he struggled to find rhythm from the outset, failing to time deliveries against a disciplined RCB bowling attack.
Josh Hazlewood’s Spell Forces Pant Off the Field
Josh Hazlewood proved to be a major challenge for Pant, consistently troubling him with pace and bounce. During the fifth over, the Australian pacer delivered a series of hard-length balls that Pant failed to connect with.
On one such delivery, the LSG captain attempted a shot but missed, with the ball striking his left arm at high speed. The impact left Pant in visible discomfort, prompting immediate medical attention. Despite a quick assessment by the physio, he was eventually taken off the field, unable to continue.
Hazlewood’s extra bounce and pace, clocked around 140 km/h, played a key role in the incident, catching Pant off guard and leading to the unfortunate injury.
A History of Injuries Continues to Trouble Pant
Pant’s latest setback adds to a long list of injury concerns that have plagued his career. Back in 2022, he survived a serious car accident that resulted in multiple injuries, including ligament damage and fractures, keeping him out of action for over a year.
He had only recently returned to competitive cricket and showed glimpses of form. However, during India’s 2025 tour of England, he suffered another blow when Chris Woakes struck him on the foot during a Test match, leading to a fracture that ruled him out of subsequent games.
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With this latest injury scare, concerns around Pant’s fitness resurface once again, posing a challenge for both his franchise and international commitments moving forward.
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