Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants after the franchise concluded IPL 2026 at the bottom of the table. The team has confirmed that Pant’s request to step away from the leadership role was accepted by the franchise management with immediate effect.
LSG accept Pant’s captaincy request
Lucknow Super Giants announced on Friday that Pant had asked to be relieved of his captaincy responsibilities and that the franchisee has agreed to the change right away.
- Rishabh Pant requested to give up captaincy duties for Lucknow Super Giants.
- LSG accepted the request and confirmed the change would take effect immediately.
IPL 2026: a season to forget for the franchise
LSG’s decision comes in the wake of a difficult IPL 2026 campaign. The team managed only four victories and ended the tournament last, collecting eight points from 14 matches.
- Lucknow Super Giants won 4 matches in IPL 2026.
- LSG finished last in the points table with 8 points from 14 outings.
Captain’s batting numbers and recent IPL record
Pant’s batting returns in IPL 2026 were also far from the impact expected from the marquee signing. In 14 matches, he scored 312 runs at a strike rate of 138.05.
- Runs in IPL 2026: 312 across 14 matches.
- Strike rate in IPL 2026: 138.05.
Pant had been purchased for a record fee of Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Since that high-profile acquisition, Lucknow have finished seventh and tenth in the two most recent seasons.
- IPL 2025 auction: Pant bought for a record Rs 27 crore.
- LSG finishing positions since then: seventh (most recent season) and tenth (the following season).
Tom Moody on Pant’s exit and the next captain
LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody said the moment was “never easy,” highlighting that Pant approached the franchise with the request and that it was accepted in a respectful manner.
Moody also expressed gratitude for what Pant had brought to the dressing room as captain and stressed that the team’s attention now turns to rebuilding and restructuring to aim for higher standards.
- Tom Moody called the decision “never easy.”
- He said Pant’s request was accepted respectfully.
- Moody added that the franchise’s priority is collective rebuilding and restructuring.
While LSG has confirmed Pant’s removal from the captaincy, it has not announced who will take over the role next. The franchise stated that, with an eye on a positive comeback in the upcoming season, the new captain for Lucknow Super Giants will be named in due course.
“With an eye on making a positive comeback in the upcoming season, the new Lucknow Super Giants captain will be announced in due course,” read the statement from the franchise.
