Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant enters a crucial IPL season with little margin for error as his side opens against Delhi Capitals at home on Wednesday. After a disappointing first year as captain — where both his leadership and batting fell short, compounded by injuries to key pacers — Pant now has a stronger, fully fit squad at his disposal.The bowling unit has been reinforced by the arrivals of Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje, while the return of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan adds depth. Young prospects like Prince Yadav and spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi further strengthen the attack.The batting looks more settled, with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram forming a formidable opening pair. Pant is expected to move up the order, with Nicholas Pooran likely to slot in at number four.Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, will look to build on a promising but inconsistent previous season. KL Rahul is set to open, though his partner remains undecided among Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Porel and Pathum Nissanka. The addition of David Miller strengthens a middle order that includes Tristan Stubbs.Despite missing Mitchell Starc for the opener, Delhi boast a strong bowling attack led by Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, with Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan adding variety. Here are five players to watch today:Rishabh Pant (LSG)After representing DC for eight seasons, Rishabh Pant joined LSG last year as captain but endured a mixed campaign. He scored 269 runs in 13 innings, including a century, but at a modest strike rate of 133.16. Pant will be aiming to turn this into a breakthrough season both as a leader and a frontline batter in the LSG setup. Overall, he has amassed 3,553 runs from 125 matches, including two hundreds and 19 fifties, with an impressive strike rate of 147.61.Mohammed Shami (LSG)Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami is set to represent his sixth IPL franchise when he dons the LSG jersey against DC. Shami has been out of the national setup for over a year, and despite strong domestic performances proving his fitness, he has been repeatedly overlooked. After a disappointing last season, he will be eager to bounce back with his new side and strengthen LSG’s attack. A seasoned campaigner, he has claimed 133 wickets in 119 IPL matches.KL Rahul (DC)DC opener KL Rahul will look to build on his excellent form from last season. After moving from LSG to DC in 2025, Rahul scored 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of 53.90 and a strike rate of 149.72, including a century and three fifties. He will aim for another 500-plus season, which would make it three in a row, having also scored 520 runs in 2024. One of the league’s most prolific batters, Rahul has accumulated 5,222 runs in 145 matches at an average above 46 and a strike rate of 136.02, including five hundreds and 40 fifties.Mayank Yadav (LSG)Young pace sensation Mayank Yadav returns from yet another injury layoff and will be keen to deliver a full season for LSG, who have shown immense faith in him. Since debuting in IPL 2024, he has played just six matches across two seasons but impressed with his ability to consistently clock speeds above 150 kmph. Fitness remains his biggest challenge, but if he stays fit, he could be a major threat to opposition batters.Tristan Stubbs (DC)Promising batter Tristan Stubbs made a strong impression in IPL 2024 for DC, scoring 378 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 190.90. He followed it up with a decent 300-run season at a strike rate of 150.75 last year, though with slightly less impact. Stubbs will now be targeting a bigger contribution, aiming to convert his consistent 300-run returns into a 500-plus season.
