Lucknow Super Giants are preparing to rethink their leadership structure after yet another underwhelming two-season stretch, with senior cricket adviser Tom Moody openly acknowledging that captain Rishabh Pant has found the demands of the role difficult to manage. Following a seventh-place finish in 2025, LSG’s 2026 campaign now appears headed for a ninth or 10th-place outcome, contingent on the final result involving Mumbai Indians.
LSG’s season fallout and Moody’s message
Moody’s remarks came after Lucknow suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings on Saturday, extending the sense that the franchise needs a reset. He said Pant’s captaincy challenges have been visible, and he also questioned whether the pressure of the job has had a knock-on effect on Pant’s batting output.
- LSG finished seventh in 2025 and are set to end 2026 in either ninth or 10th place, depending on Mumbai Indians’ final result.
- Across two seasons under Pant’s captaincy, the franchise recorded only 10 wins from 28 matches.
- Moody said captaincy has been “challenging,” adding that the on-field results mirror that reality.
- He suggested Pant’s batting may also be affected by the pressure of leadership, while stressing the team will reflect and consider “all things.”
- Moody indicated that leadership decisions are being examined seriously and that the club may need to “consider a reset.”
Rishabh Pant’s captaincy pressure and batting numbers
Moody’s comments arrive amid heavy attention on Pant, who was acquired for a record-breaking fee of Rs 27 crore. While Pant is widely viewed as one of India’s most destructive batters, his returns at Lucknow have not matched the impact he delivered earlier in his career.
- In 2018, Pant scored 684 runs at a strike rate of 173.60.
- In 2019, he made 488 runs at a strike rate of 162.66.
- Over two seasons with LSG, Pant has scored 581 runs at a strike rate of 135.74.
- That strike rate sits below his career strike rate of 144.18.
Moody’s assessment also comes after Pant lost India’s Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul and was left out of the ODI squad.
Collective responsibility over blame
Despite the disappointment of the current campaign, Moody avoided pointing the finger at any single player or unit. He framed the situation as a shared responsibility across the squad and backroom setup, while still insisting that specific issues will be addressed after a period of calm reflection.
- Moody said everyone is responsible for the disappointing season.
- He added that it is not the moment to single out individuals or assign blame to particular departments.
- He noted that the team will reflect in a calm manner, but decisions and improvements will follow.
He also reinforced that, like every department, Lucknow will take a measured look at what went wrong and what needs correcting going forward.
Punjab Kings snap skid; playoff scenario hinges on Rajasthan
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, halted a seven-match losing streak with the seven-wicket win over Lucknow, keeping their own playoff hopes alive. Even with the momentum from that victory, PBKS qualification remains dependent on Sunday’s match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians, with Rajasthan currently positioned on 14 points and Mumbai already eliminated.
- PBKS beat LSG by seven wickets to end a seven-game losing run.
- PBKS’ path to the playoffs now depends on Sunday’s clash: Rajasthan Royals (14 points) vs Mumbai Indians (already eliminated).
- If Rajasthan win, they would move to 16 points and secure the final playoff spot.
- A Rajasthan win would knock Punjab out of playoff contention.
In the chase, Shreyas Iyer set the tone with an unbeaten 101, while opener Prabhsimran Singh contributed a 69 to help steer Punjab to the target.
Iyer’s innings and Haddin’s “must-win” message
Punjab assistant coach Brad Haddin highlighted the importance of senior impact in high-pressure fixtures, saying those are the games where the best players must come to the front. He also referenced the mentality around Iyer during the match, suggesting the captain had a clear desire to change the course of things and give the side a chance to reach the finals.
- Haddin said it’s in matches like these that you want your best players to stand up.
- He described the game as one where everything is on the line.
- Haddin added that Iyer appeared ready to make the difference and turn the situation around.
- He said that effort gave Punjab an opportunity to play in the finals.
