No thinking about past form, Lucknow captain Pant on his poor run

Dubai: Rishabh Pant was among the thick of things during the IPL Auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the the current season.

Making a sensational comeback from a near-fatal accident, the Indian wicket-keeper batter proved why he was a pivotal player for any team after he was snapped by Lucknow Super Giants for a record price of Rs270 million.

But the fairytale journey hasn't gone the way he would have wanted it to be with a string of poor performances. He's managed just 110 runs from 10 matches, including just one half century. His lack of form has affected Lucknow as the team are lying in sixth position with just five wins.

Pant said he had been "keeping it very simple", but was trying to remain focused on the matches ahead and "not thinking" about his past form.

"In a season like this, where things are not going your way, you're going to start questioning yourself as a player - and that is something you don't want to do," he said.

But team mentor Zaheer Khan praised Pant's leadership despite his flop show. "He's been fantastic as a leader, that's something which I can vouch for," Zaheer said after the team's 54-run loss to Mumbai.

"The kind of efforts he's been taking to make sure that each individual in that group is comfortable, is heard, and the planning to do everything which goes around in IPL, he's being spot on."

Former India pace bowler Zaheer added that the team's middle order is "dependent on Rishabh", and remained sure he will provide the runs that are needed.

"I'm very confident that the impact, which we want from him, will come," he added. "It's just about something clicking - so I wouldn't relate it to pressure."

India's spin great Anil Kumble said pressure of Pant's price tag was weighing heavy on the flamboyant batsman.

"There's a lot of expectations on him as a captain, as a leader, and he was bought at the maximum price at the auction," said Kumble.

"All of these are probably going through his mind," he added. "The last thing that you want is all of this - you want to shut all of that out, focus on the white ball that's coming out at him, and that's all he needs to do."