Last Updated: May 29, 2026 06:10 PM
Rishabh Pant steps down as LSG captain. The franchise accepted his resignation immediately. Nobody saw this coming to be honest. It was a shock for everyone involved.
Lucknow had a really bad IPL 2026. They finished at the very bottom. Won only 4 matches out of 14. That’s the worst record in the whole tournament. LSG got eliminated first which was embarrassing. The team completely fell apart this season.
Pant made the decision to step down as he couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. The franchise accepted his request immediately. The official announcement came out right away.
Looking at his captaincy record overall. In 2025 LSG won only 6 matches. In 2026 they won just 4 matches. That’s 10 wins in 28 total matches. Not acceptable for a franchise like Lucknow. The team underperformed really badly under him.
Rishabh Pant’s Batting Form Declined Badly Too
Rishabh Pant wasn’t just a bad captain. His batting also suffered during his tenure. In 2025 he scored 269 runs. In 2026 he scored 312 runs. Combined that’s 528 runs total.
His average across both seasons was 26.4. That’s really poor for a top batter honestly. His strike rate was 135 which is decent. But the runs themselves were disappointing. He hit only 1 century and 2 fifties. That’s not enough contribution from a star player.
Before joining LSG he played well. With the Delhi Capitals in 2024 he scored 446 runs. That was in just 13 matches. His form completely dropped after moving to Lucknow. The change didn’t work out for him. Maybe the pressure affected his batting badly.
Who Could Replace Rishabh Pant as Captain
LSG needs a new captain right now. Several players could take the job. Mitchell Marsh is one option for them. He has international captaincy experience. Aiden Markram could also be considered. Nicholas Pooran is another possibility.
All three have led their countries before. That experience matters for a franchise. They understand how to handle pressure. They know how to lead big matches. Any of them could do better than Pant.
Tom Moody from LSG said the decision wasn’t easy. He emphasized that the team needs rebuilding. The franchise wants to restructure everything. This is a fresh start basically.
What Comes Next for Lucknow Super Giants
LSG will announce their new captain soon. The franchise has time to decide properly. They need someone strong to lead. The team needs better leadership clearly. Pant couldn’t handle the pressure honestly. A new captain could change things around. Lucknow needs to improve its performance. They can’t finish last again next year.
