&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "IPL 2026 | Why did Badoni bat ahead of Pooran at number 3 for LSG vs DC? skipper Pant explains")
Nicholas Pooran had a successful IPL 2025 for Lucknow Super Giants when he smashed 524 runs at number 4 at a strike rate of nearly 200 (196.25). In the first match of IPL 2026, however, Ayush Badoni was sent ahead of Pooran in a surprise move on Wednesday (April 1) against Delhi Capitals (DC). The change in position came as LSG skipper Rishabh Pant came out to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh unlike last season with Aiden Markram had opened. Pant as opener has pushed Markram to number 3 where Pooran played last season. The changes, nonetheless, did not help LSG with the result as they lost the match by six wickets.
Why Badoni batted ahead of Pooran for LSG vs DC?
"I think the idea was very simple. Like, [Pooran] is taking the charge in the middle overs. He's not batting in the top order anymore because I'm batting up the order," Pant said after the match.
"And the swap [between Pooran and Badoni] happened because, you know, we wanted to explore that lefty-righty option at the top. So, they couldn't bowl a left-arm spinner. Unfortunately, I got out at the wrong time. Otherwise, Axar [Patel] still had to bowl one over in the powerplay and that gives us the edge over them."
That's the role we are defining for Badoni. When the situation is tough like that, when we lose early wickets, that's the time he needs to make a mark," explained the skipper.
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Will Pant continue to open for LSG?
Pant's decision to open the innings for LSG comes as a surprise after Marsh and Markram added second most partnership runs in the season - 574 in 12 innings at an average of 48. The LSG skipper has not yet confirmed to open throughout the season but has made it clear that he'll bat in top order.
"I think it's a 50-50 call, but we'll see, But [you'll] definitely see me in the top order," said Pant after the match in which he unluckily got out at non-striker's end through an unfortunate run-out.
