Rishabh Pant steps down as LSG captain after disastrous IPL 2026 campaign
Lucknow, May 29
Star India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the captain of the Indian Premier League franchise Lucknow Super Giants after the team's bottom-table finish in the 2026 season.
LSG, in a social media post on Friday, announced that Pant requested to step down as captain, and the franchise accepted his decision with immediate effect.
LSG finished last in the IPL 2026 season with just four wins in 14 matches. Pant was the marquee signing for Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2025 auction, where the franchise secured him for Rs 27 crore. However, for the two seasons that Pant has captained LSG, the team could not make it to the playoffs.
"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 LSG said in a statement on Friday.
Lucknow Super Giants thanked Pant for his leadership and said the decision was difficult, adding that the team's focus will now shift to rebuilding and improving overall performance
"Rishabh approached the franchisee with this 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 statement added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Respect to Pant for stepping down. It takes guts to admit something isn't working. But LSG's management also needs to look at themselves - they spent so much on one player and expected him to single-handedly win matches. Team balance was always off. Hope both sides find their footing.
Classic Indian cricket drama... Aur kya? 😅 One bad season and everyone's talking about stepping down. Pant is still young and has a lot of cricket ahead. What about KL Rahul's captaincy? What about Kohli's? Everyone goes through slumps. Matter of time before Pant bounces back. Mark my words.
That 27 crore price tag was always going to be a double-edged sword. Pant didn't become a bad player overnight - he just needs a break from leadership. DC fans know what he's capable of as a player. Let him play freely without the armband. LSG should look at someone like Rahul or a foreign coach for captaincy.
IPL mein captaincy is temporary, but talent is permanent. Pant's fearlessness is what made him special in the first place. Hope this decision helps him rediscover his mojo. LSG management needs to stop making impulsive decisions and build a proper team. Abhi tak rebuilding hi chal raha hai. 🤷♂️
Not surprised. Pant's captaincy decisions in the last season were questionable at best - weird bowling changes, strange batting order. But I respect that he took responsibility. Hope he goes back to being the dasher we all love. And LSG - please don't waste more crores on big
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