(DNP) Sanjay Bangar delivers honest verdict over Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Poora – Sanjay Bangar’s Strategic IPL 2026 Verdict: Pant, Pooran, and Beyond
The Strategic Dilemma: Moving Beyond Simple Retentions
The conclusion of the IPL 2026 season has left franchise owners and fans alike pondering the difficult decisions that lie ahead in the upcoming auction cycle. Former Indian cricket team batting coach Sanjay Bangar has weighed in on the debate, offering a nuanced assessment that goes beyond the binary choice of retaining or releasing players. In a recent analysis, Bangar introduced the concept of the ‘repurchase’—a strategic maneuver aimed at resetting a player’s valuation when their performance hasn’t quite matched their initial heavy price tag.
The Lucknow Super Giants Conundrum: Pant and Pooran
Perhaps the most discussed aspect of Bangar’s assessment concerns the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Despite high expectations, both Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran experienced underwhelming campaigns in 2026. Pant, who carried the weight of being the most expensive player in IPL history, struggled to find his rhythm, while Pooran managed only 234 runs across 14 matches, failing to deliver the explosive impact fans have come to expect. Bangar suggests that rather than releasing these stars entirely, LSG should look to utilize the auction dynamics to ‘repurchase’ them at a more realistic price point. However, he was far less charitable toward pacer Avesh Khan, recommending that the franchise cut ties entirely following a season hampered by injury and inconsistency.
Assessing the Squads: Winners and Losers
Bangar’s insights extended across the league, providing a comprehensive audit for several franchises:
- Punjab Kings: The veteran coach advised retaining the services of Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal, despite noting their fluctuating statistics. However, he feels that Xavier Bartlett has not done enough to secure a spot in the team’s long-term plans.
- Mumbai Indians: Shardul Thakur earns a positive endorsement after claiming 12 wickets. Conversely, Bangar believes it may be time for the five-time champions to part ways with veterans Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. Most intriguingly, Bangar expressed uncertainty regarding Hardik Pandya‘s future at the franchise, leaving his standing somewhat up in the air.
- Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings: For the Capitals, the recommendation is to keep T. Natarajan while releasing Nitish Rana and Mukesh Kumar. In the CSK camp, Bangar is a firm supporter of retaining Shivam Dube, while suggesting that Prashant Veer could be a candidate for a ‘repurchase’ strategy.
A New Tactical Framework for Auctions
The ‘repurchase’ philosophy essentially addresses the inflation of the IPL auction market. Players like Liam Livingstone and Harshal Patel were specifically categorized by Bangar as players who still possess significant utility but whose current salary commitments might hinder squad balance. By releasing such players and attempting to bid for them again, franchises could theoretically build a more robust, well-rounded team within the constraints of the salary cap.
Other notable recommendations include keeping Rahul Tewatia at the Gujarat Titans while releasing Shahrukh Khan, and retaining Ravindra Jadeja at the Rajasthan Royals while moving on from Shimron Hetmyer. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bangar advocates for continued patience with Romario Shepherd, suggesting that his role remains vital to the team’s balance.
Final Thoughts on Performance Metrics
The 2026 season was characterized by peaks and troughs, with many established names failing to maintain a high average or strike rate. Bangar’s honest verdict highlights the brutal reality of professional T20 cricket: past achievements are no guarantee of future returns. As the franchises prepare for the next phase of squad building, the implementation of these strategic ‘repurchases’ could very well define the success of the next season. It is a bold, analytical approach that forces teams to prioritize current form and fiscal responsibility over emotional attachments to marquee names.
Whether franchises choose to follow this expert advice remains to be seen, but Bangar’s framework undoubtedly provides a logical blueprint for navigating the complexities of the upcoming auction cycle.
