Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt during the Indian Premier League 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 15, after suffering multiple blows during a hostile spell from Josh Hazlewood Josh Hazlewood.
Pant, who came in at No. 3 with LSG under early pressure, struggled to settle as Hazlewood generated pace and bounce from the start. The Australian quick tested him with a mix of short balls and hard lengths, forcing several mistimed shots. On one of the early deliveries, Pant attempted a big shot but missed completely, beaten by extra pace. Shortly after, a sharp short ball struck him on the body, visibly unsettling the LSG captain.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The decisive moment came when Pant was hit on the elbow following a painful exchange in the same over. Although he initially tried to continue, he appeared increasingly uncomfortable. The team physio rushed out to assess him, and despite receiving on-field treatment, Pant could not recover sufficiently to carry on. He was eventually seen walking off in clear discomfort after facing just a handful of deliveries without scoring.
Following his exit, Nicholas Pooran Nicholas Pooran replaced him in the middle, as LSG were left reeling at 33/1 after five overs. Pant’s departure also disrupted the team’s balance, forcing a reshuffle in the batting order during a crucial phase of the innings.
Pant’s early exit added to LSG’s concerns, with the captain having struggled for consistency in the season, managing 103 runs from five matches at a strike rate of 130. Interestingly, during the match, RCB’s star batter Virat Kohli Virat Kohli was also under focus as tactical changes shaped the contest.
The incident has now raised concerns over Pant’s fitness, with further medical assessment expected after the match.
