Lucknow: Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants with immediate effect following the team’s disappointing IPL 2026 campaign.
The franchise confirmed the development on Friday, stating that Pant had personally requested to be relieved of captaincy duties and that the management had accepted his decision.
Pant’s exit as skipper comes after Lucknow Super Giants endured a disastrous IPL 2026 season, finishing at the bottom of the points table with only four wins from 14 matches.
Disappointing two-year captaincy stint
Pant was signed by LSG for a massive Rs 27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction and was expected to lead the franchise into a new era.
However, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons under his leadership.
In IPL 2025, Lucknow managed only six victories from 14 matches, while the 2026 campaign saw an even sharper decline with the team winning just four games throughout the season.
Overall, Pant registered only 10 wins in 28 matches as captain of the franchise.
In an official statement, Lucknow Super Giants said the franchise respected Pant’s decision and appreciated his contribution to the team.
Franchise thanks Pant for contribution
The franchise released a formal statement confirming the development.
“Lucknow Super Giants wish to formally announce that Rishabh Pant has requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties with the franchise, and the franchise has accepted his request with immediate effect,” the statement said.
LSG team director Tom Moody stated that such decisions are never easy but indicated that the franchise now intends to focus on rebuilding the squad structure after the disappointing season.
Moody acknowledged Pant’s efforts as captain and thanked him for his role within the dressing room over the past two seasons.
He added that the franchise’s immediate priority would be restructuring the team and improving overall standards ahead of the next IPL season.
Pant’s batting form also declined
Apart from the team’s struggles, Pant’s individual batting performances also failed to meet expectations during his tenure with Lucknow.
The wicketkeeper-batter scored 269 runs in 14 matches during the 2025 season and improved slightly to 312 runs in IPL 2026.
Across two seasons with LSG, Pant accumulated 581 runs in 28 matches at an average of 26.4 and a strike rate of 135.74.
His stint included one century and two half-centuries.
The decline came after Pant had enjoyed a strong IPL 2024 campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he scored 446 runs in 13 matches.
Cricket analysts noted that the pressure of leadership, combined with inconsistent team performances, may have affected Pant’s form during his period with Lucknow.
LSG begin search for new captain
With Pant stepping down, Lucknow Super Giants are now expected to begin the search for a new captain ahead of IPL 2027.
The franchise already has several experienced international players who could emerge as leadership contenders.
Among the likely candidates are Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, all of whom have previously captained their respective national teams.
Cricket experts believe the franchise may now look to rebuild its squad strategy after back-to-back disappointing IPL seasons.
The leadership change is also expected to trigger wider discussions regarding team composition, overseas combinations and auction planning for the upcoming season.
Pressure mounts on franchise rebuild
Lucknow Super Giants entered IPL 2026 with high expectations after investing heavily in Pant and assembling a star-studded squad.
However, injuries, inconsistent performances and repeated middle-order collapses contributed to one of the franchise’s poorest campaigns since entering the IPL.
Fans and analysts have increasingly questioned the team’s tactical decisions and squad balance throughout the season.
With Pant stepping aside, the franchise faces a crucial rebuilding phase as it attempts to restore competitiveness ahead of the next edition of the tournament.
Despite the disappointing results, Pant remains one of India’s leading wicketkeeper-batters and is expected to continue playing a key role for both his franchise and the national team in the future.