LSG Skipper Rishabh Pant steps down after dismal outing

Lucknow Super Giants will head into IPL 2027 with a new captain after Rishabh Pant stepped down from the role. The franchise confirmed on Friday that it had accepted Pant’s request to relinquish the captaincy following a disappointing 2026 season in which LSG finished at the bottom of the table.The franchise announced the decision through an official statement, stating that Pant had requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties and that the management had accepted his request with immediate effect.

“Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wish to formally announce that Rishabh Pant has requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties with the franchise, and the franchisee has accepted his request with immediate effect,” the statement read.

LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody said the decision came after Pant himself approached the franchise. “Rishabh approached the franchisee with his request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective – rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards.”

The franchise added that a new captain would be named in due course as they begin preparations for the next season. “With an eye on making a positive comeback in the upcoming season, the new Lucknow Super Giants captain will be announced in due course,” the statement added.

The leadership change does not come as a complete surprise. Following LSG’s final league game of the season against Punjab Kings, Moody had hinted that the franchise would assess all aspects of the campaign during its post-season review, including the captaincy.

“You do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected with his performance with the bat,” Moody had said. “I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we’ll take time, we’ll reflect on it. We’ll consider all things.”

Pant arrived at Lucknow with enormous expectations. After spending eight seasons with Delhi Capitals, he was bought by LSG for a record Rs 27.50 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and was immediately handed the captaincy. The move was seen as the start of a new era for the franchise.

However, things never quite went according to plan. In his first season with Lucknow, Pant endured an inconsistent run with the bat. Although he produced a brilliant unbeaten 118, he finished the campaign with only 269 runs as LSG ended the season in seventh place.

The 2026 season brought only a slight improvement in his individual numbers. Pant scored 312 runs in 13 innings, but the team’s fortunes declined further. Lucknow managed just four wins in 14 matches and finished at the foot of the table, making it their worst campaign since joining the IPL.

Before Pant’s arrival, LSG had been led by KL Rahul since the franchise’s debut season in 2022. Under Rahul, the team reached the playoffs in their first two seasons before slipping to seventh place in 2024. Seeking a fresh start, Lucknow moved in a different direction and appointed Pant as captain ahead of IPL 2025. Two difficult seasons later, that experiment has come to an end.

Lucknow are not short of leadership options as they look for a new captain. Aiden Markram currently captains the franchise’s SA20 side, Durban Super Giants, and also leads Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred. Mitchell Marsh is the captain of Australia’s T20I team, while Nicholas Pooran recently guided MI New York to the Major League Cricket title after taking over the captaincy from Kieron Pollard.