'Pant is a fighter': Ex-selector backs wicketkeer-batter amid poor IPL 2026 run

NEW DELHI: At a time when Rishabh Pant finds himself battling one of the toughest phases of his career, former India wicketkeeper and chief selector Kiran More has thrown his weight firmly behind the struggling star, insisting that Pant has the courage, character and resilience to script yet another comeback.Pant’s difficult IPL 2026 campaign has only added to the scrutiny around him. The wicketkeeper-batter has struggled for runs, while his team, Lucknow Super Giants, have endured a forgettable season. The struggles have also spilled over to the international arena, where Pant was replaced by KL Rahul as India’s Test vice-captain and lost his place as the second-choice ODI wicketkeeper to Ishan Kishan for the upcoming series against the Afghanistan. Pant has managed only 286 runs in 13 matches in IPL 2026, while under his captaincy, Lucknow Super Giants are languishing at the bottom of the points table. He also came under criticism for using the F-word live on television following LSG’s defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur."No, it’s nothing like that, I am not disappointed at all. Pant is in the team, and I am very happy. He is a fighter, a player with immense courage, has a big heart, and he has performed exceptionally well (by) winning (Test) matches single-handedly. I have worked quite closely with him, and I know him very well.“Every cricketer goes through a phase like this; you pass through such times. So I think there will definitely be a great comeback, and a strong comeback. When his life was saved, and he returned to the team, he performed so well, so this (current phase) is nothing compared to that,” More told IANS on Thursday.More also spoke about the launch of the Beyond Reach Premier League, a tournament aimed at tennis-ball cricketers. Trials for the league were recently conducted under his supervision in Ghaziabad.“This is a special league, and we want to do something different. This was our first trial, and a lot of boys showed up for this, and we got to see some very interesting talent.”Thousands of players turned up to showcase their talent as the Beyond Reach Premier League (BRPL) successfully concluded its Delhi-NCR trials on May 20 and 21 at Trident Cricket Academy, near Hi-Tech World School, Ghaziabad, witnessing tremendous enthusiasm and participation from aspiring cricketers across Delhi-NCR and nearby regions.The two-day trials saw young, talented players turning up to showcase their talent as BRPL continued their mission of identifying and nurturing grassroots tennis-ball cricket talent from across the country.More, oversaw the trials and closely monitored the performances of participating players during the selection process.Players were assessed across multiple skill parameters, including batting, bowling, fielding, fitness, temperament, and match awareness, as BRPL focused on identifying promising talent capable of excelling in a professionally structured tennis-ball cricket environment.Speaking after the successful completion of the trials, Sushil Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO of Beyond Reach Premier League (BRPL), said: “The response we received during the Delhi trials was truly overwhelming. It was inspiring to witness the passion, energy, and commitment shown by players who travelled from different parts of Delhi-NCR and nearby regions to participate. This is exactly the kind of cricketing ecosystem we want to build through BRPL.”Speaking about the trials, Kiran More said, “It was great to see such strong participation and enthusiasm among players during the BRPL Delhi trials. There is immense raw talent at the grassroots level, and platforms like BRPL can play a very important role in giving these players direction, exposure, and confidence. Several players displayed impressive skills and a strong hunger to perform.”The Beyond Reach Premier League has been launched with the vision of transforming tennis-ball cricket into a professionally managed sporting ecosystem by combining structured tournaments, competitive exposure, digital visibility, and professional management.With participation open to players from across India, BRPL aims to strengthen grassroots cricket and provide aspiring cricketers with opportunities to progress through an organised and competitive platform.