IPL 2026: ‘3-4 hour sessions were dedicated to just talking’ - Irfan Pathan reveals Rishabh Pant’s preparation for LSG campaign

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has highlighted the intense preparation Rishabh Pant is undergoing with veteran Yuvraj Singh ahead of IPL 2026. The Lucknow Super Giants captain finds himself at a crucial juncture in his career, especially after a disappointing IPL 2025 season, where he had entered as the most expensive player in the tournament’s history.

Pant has endured a significant dip in form in white-ball cricket in recent years and has largely served as a backup wicketkeeper in the ODI setup, making just one appearance over the past three-and-a-half years. He also lost his place in India’s T20I side following the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Meanwhile, Yuvraj, who has closely mentored players like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, has recently been working with Pant as well, aiming to help him rediscover his best form.

"It is very important that Rishabh Pant gets to bat during the powerplay. Nicholas Pooran has batted at No.3 for them, but Rishabh Pant must be locked in batting at No.3 so that he gets to bat in the powerplay. So, I believe that just lock it. After he worked with Yuvraj Singh, I spoke to Yuvi, and Yuvi told me that more than technical aspects, he worked with Rishabh on the mental side of the game. 3-4 hour sessions were dedicated to just talking," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Pant struggled both with the bat and as a captain during the IPL 2025 season. He was often seen engaging in heated arguments and intense on-field discussions, which did little to benefit either himself or the team. His leadership credentials were even questioned by Faf du Plessis. However, Pathan believes Pant still possesses more than enough ability and pedigree to justify his reputation.

"There will be a lot of responsibility on Rishabh Pant. We will have to see what he does to get this team qualified. Whatever I have seen of him so far, he looks to be more fit and focused. He has spent 4-5 days with Yuvraj Singh as well. Now we will have to see how he brings those learnings onto the field. He always seemed to be under pressure last year. It seemed that he was not enjoying cricket. He needs to enjoy cricket," Pathan said.

"Rishabh Pant has done well in this league, he has an average of 34 and a strike rate of around 150, and scored 3500 runs. This shows that you have shown your dominance in this league. The performances are there, match-winning innings are there, but it has to be taken further," he added.