Excitement around Indian Premier League (IPL) It’s already reaching fever pitch as the 2026 season approaches. With franchises finalizing strategies and fans eagerly anticipating the opening games, all eyes are on the star players who can shape the tournament. Every IPL season brings high expectations, especially for the senior players and captains who carry their team’s hopes. Big contracts, leadership responsibilities, and the pressure of being in the spotlight of millions of fans become an inevitable part of competition.
IPL 2026 promises to deliver another exciting chapter in the history of the league. Several young talents are ready to make their mark, while established stars look to dominate the tournament once again. However, expectations are responsible, and some players will face more scrutiny than others as they try to prove their worth to their franchises. According to the former South African captain Faf du Plessis, a certain player will carry the heaviest load heading into the new season.
Faf du Plessis picks the player who will be under intense pressure in IPL 2026
During a discussion on Star Sports, Du Plessis shared his thoughts on which cricketer could be under more pressure in IPL 2026. The veteran pointed to the kicker. Rishabh pantswho led the Lucknow Super Giants.
Du Plessis explained that Pant faces a unique challenge as he has to perform both as a batsman and as a captain. Expectations on Pant, he said, have grown because of his leadership role and the price tag pressure that often accompanies star players in the IPL. He noted that some players thrive under the pressure of high expectations, while others struggle to find a rhythm when in the spotlight.
“For me, he’s probably the player under the most pressure in the IPL this season. We always talk about price tag pressure. Some guys thrive under that price tag pressure and some guys don’t. It was a really tough season for him last season. The team struggled and his runs struggled too. Du Plessis said.
The former South African skipper also noted that Lucknow endured a tough campaign in IPL 2025, adding to the onus on Pant’s shoulders. The franchise finished seventh in the points table and failed to qualify for the playoffs, making the upcoming season crucial for both the captain and the team.
“So when he comes into this season, there’s all the pressure and expectations of what the team is going to do. With a team full of batsmen, how are they going to maximize their bowling? If he’s scoring runs as a captain, that puts pressure on you first, but then there’s the second instance, which is the team, and they both had big red crosses last year.” added the former South African captain.
Lucknow will begin their IPL 2026 journey with a home clash against Delhi Capitals on April 1, a match that will put immediate focus on Pant’s leadership.
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Expectations are high from the star goalkeeper
Pant’s individual performance last season also led to the pressure surrounding him. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman scored 269 runs in 13 overs at an average of 24.45 in IPL 2025, figures that fell short of the standards fans expected from him.
It has been a tough season for a player known for his explosive hitting and fearless approach. Struggles with the bat have coincided with Lucknow’s erratic results, making it a campaign the team would prefer to forget.
However, Pant ended the season on a strong note with a brilliant unbeaten 118 off the 61 balls he faced. Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league match. The innings reminded fans of his match-winning ability and offered a glimpse of what he can achieve when fit.
Expectations from Pant remain high as IPL 2026 approaches. Supporters of the Lucknow franchise will hope that their captain rediscovers his best form and leads the side with confidence.
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