Yuvraj Singh received a thoughtful gift from Rishabh Pant after helping him with guidance ahead of the ongoing IPL season. Known for mentoring young Indian players, Yuvraj spent time with Pant in the lead-up to the tournament, focusing largely on the mental side of his game. The wicketkeeper-batter had endured a difficult previous season and also missed out on this year’s T20 World Cup squad, which saw him slip down the pecking order in white-ball cricket, particularly in T20Is. Keen to turn things around, Pant reached out for support, with Yuvraj working closely with him during training sessions to rebuild confidence and sharpen his approach.
As a token of appreciation, Pant presented Yuvraj with a golf club, a gesture that reflected both gratitude and a personal touch. Since stepping away from cricket, Yuvraj has taken a keen interest in golf, often spending time on the course with former teammates and enjoying the sport as part of his post-retirement routine.
Yuvraj shared a video on social media thanking Rishabh Pant for the thoughtful gesture, revealing the message written on the golf bag: “Dear Yuvi paaji, thank you for your support and guidance. See you on the golf course. Love RP.”
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The veteran all-rounder appreciated the gift, but also added a light-hearted touch. He playfully took a dig at his other mentees – Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Prabhsimran Singh, Naman Dhir, Abdul Samad and Priyansh Arya, telling them to “have some shame” for not matching Pant’s gesture.
Pant enduring rough patch
Meanwhile, Pant has endured a tough IPL 2026, falling short of the standards he has set in previous seasons. Across nine innings, he has managed 204 runs at an average of 25.50, striking at 128.30. For a player known for taking bowlers on and shifting momentum quickly, those numbers reflect a dip in overall impact. He has hit just 19 fours and seven sixes so far, with only one half-century to his name. There have been starts, but he hasn’t been able to convert them into match-defining contributions. The inconsistency has come at a cost for his side, particularly in situations that demanded either a steady hand or a late surge. Despite the work put in behind the scenes and the guidance he has received, Pant is still searching for rhythm and a run of scores to turn his season around. His team is also languishing at the bottom of the points table with just two wins in nine matches and on the brink of elimination from the playoffs race.