Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have announced that Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the franchise captain, effective immediately. The wicketkeeper-batter had taken over the leadership role after being acquired by the side in the IPL mega auction, but the team has now moved on following a request from Pant himself.
LSG confirms Pant’s resignation as captain
In a statement released by the franchise, LSG said Pant approached the management with a request to be relieved of captaincy responsibilities and that the team accepted the decision right away.
“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 read.
LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody also addressed the development, acknowledging that such decisions are rarely simple for either the player or the organisation. Moody highlighted the importance of focusing on team-building after Pant’s departure from the leadership role.
“Rishabh approached the franchise 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,” Moody said.
From mega-auction headline to two seasons as skipper
Pant’s IPL journey with LSG began as he entered the mega auction as one of the most high-profile names on the market. He ultimately became the most expensive player in IPL auction history when LSG secured his services for a record-breaking ₹27 crore.
After joining the franchise, Pant was appointed captain and led the side for two seasons, but LSG’s results and his own batting output did not provide the level of impact that was expected from the skipper.
IPL 2025: Seventh place and limited batting returns
Under Pant’s captaincy in IPL 2025, LSG finished seventh in the points table. With the bat, Pant endured a disappointing campaign, scoring 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17.
The standout moment came in the team’s final league match, when Pant remained unbeaten on 118 against RCB. Apart from that innings, the season failed to deliver consistent returns for the wicketkeeper-batter.
IPL 2026: Bottom of the table
The struggles continued into IPL 2026, with LSG ending the tournament at the bottom of the table while Pant remained captain.
Again, Pant could not establish steady rhythm with the bat, finishing with 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28.36 and a strike rate of 138.05. He also managed only one score of fifty or more across the entire season.
