Ahead of IPL 2026, ex-South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis criticised Rishabh Pant's game plan saying, "Even in his method in Test cricket, it looks all over the place." He added, "You feel like Pant's always on the edge. You feel like he can get out at any stage." Pant had scored 269 runs in 14 games in IPL 2025.