By Robert 
When you think of Rishabh Pant vs spin, one image stands tall: him dancing down the track at The Gabba, hammering Nathan Lyon into the stands. It was a shot of audacity, skill, and sheer confidence — especially given the previous ball had turned square and Lyon is among the best in the business. In Tests, Pant’s record against spin is elite: 257 runs at an average of 42.83 and a strike rate of 63.61 off Lyon, and 151 off 99 balls against Jack Leach at a blistering strike rate of 152.52.
So, “Pant struggling against spin” feels almost contradictory. But in the T20 format, it’s become a recurring theme.
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
Since the start of 2020, Pant has scored 895 runs off 767 balls against spin in T20s, striking at just 116.68 — well below his explosive best. Since returning from injury last year, he’s managed 267 runs off 236 balls, with 10 dismissals and a strike rate of 113.13. While he’s taken an aggressive approach (attacking 68.5% of deliveries), his execution hasn’t been efficient.
Pant vs Spin in T20s (Since 2024)
| Runs | Balls | Avg | SR | Dot% | Good% | Neut% | No Shot% | False Shot% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 267 | 236 | 26.7 | 113.13 | 35.9 | 14.8 | 62.8 | 0.8 | 21.4 |
Breakdown by Spin Type (Since 2020)
| Bowling Type | Runs | Balls | Dismissals | Avg | SR | Dot% | Boundary% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right-arm off-spin | 262 | 245 | 4 | 65.5 | 106.93 | 33.3 | 9.79% |
| Right-arm leg-spin | 415 | 334 | 14 | 29.64 | 124.25 | 34.6 | 15.86% |
| Left-arm orthodox | 173 | 130 | 8 | 21.62 | 133.07 | 30.6 | 16.92% |
| Left-arm wrist-spin | 45 | 58 | 1 | 45.00 | 77.58 | 47.4 | 6.89% |
Pant’s biggest struggles have come against left-arm wrist-spin, where his strike rate dips under 80 and nearly half the deliveries he faces are dots.
A Case in Point: Match vs CSK
In a recent home game against Chennai Super Kings, Pant walked in with LSG at 23/2 after four overs. He then faced the tournament’s Purple Cap holder, Noor Ahmad. What followed was a clear illustration of his struggles against spin in T20s: 15 balls faced, 10 dots, 4 singles, and a double. The last four balls of that spell were consecutive dots in the 17th over — right when LSG needed momentum heading into the death.
Those 10 dot balls are the most faced by any batter against a bowler in an IPL innings since 2024. And among 373 batter-bowler matchups in IPL history (min. 15 balls), Pant’s strike rate of 40 against Noor is the second-lowest ever.
Pant in Match 30 vs CSK:
- vs pace: 45 off 26 (SR: 173.07)
- vs spin: 18 off 23 (SR: 78.26)
Lowest SR vs Bowler in an IPL Innings (min. 15 balls)
| Player | Bowler | Match | Runs | Balls | SR | Venue, Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | Axar Patel | CSK vs DC | 5 | 15 | 33.33 | Delhi, 2019 |
| T. Dilshan | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | RCB vs PWI | 6 | 15 | 40.00 | Bengaluru, 2013 |
| Steven Smith | Amit Mishra | RR vs SRH | 6 | 15 | 40.00 | Ahmedabad, 2014 |
| Rishabh Pant | Noor Ahmad | LSG vs CSK | 6 | 15 | 40.00 | Lucknow, 2025 |
| Gurkeerat Singh | Lockie Ferguson | RCB vs KKR | 7 | 16 | 43.75 | Abu Dhabi, 2020 |
| Corey Anderson | Glenn Maxwell | DC vs PBKS | 7 | 15 | 46.66 | Mohali, 2017 |
LSG’s Wider Spin Woes
The entire LSG middle order struggled against spin in that game. After Nicholas Pooran, their best player of spin (SR: 272.46 in IPL 2025), fell early, the lineup crumbled under pressure. Despite a higher attacking shot percentage against spin (69.7% vs 61.1% against pace), LSG batters managed a combined strike rate of just 85.71 against Jadeja and Noor — a decisive factor in a game that went down to the final over.
Final Word
Pant’s flair and talent against spin in Tests haven’t quite translated to T20s. While he remains a dangerous player, particularly against pace, his recent record suggests a growing vulnerability to spin — especially left-arm wrist-spin. It’s an area bowlers are targeting, and unless Pant adapts, it could continue to impact both his individual form and his team’s results.