Rishabh Pant’s captaincy spell with Lucknow Super Giants has ended as abruptly as it began, after the wicketkeeper-batter stepped down following yet another painful IPL campaign for the franchise. LSG have confirmed that Pant requested removal from the leadership role, and the team has accepted the decision with immediate effect. The change arrives with Lucknow again finishing at the bottom of the standings, keeping their playoff wait going for a second straight season.
Quick facts
- Rishabh Pant stepped down as Lucknow Super Giants captain.
- LSG accepted Pant’s request to be relieved of captaincy duties with immediate effect.
- Lucknow finished last in the points table in IPL 2026, extending their playoff drought to two consecutive seasons.
- Pant was bought for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and was appointed captain immediately.
- IPL 2025: Lucknow finished seventh; Pant made 269 runs in the season at an average of 24.45 and strike rate of 133.17.
- IPL 2025 highlight: Pant’s unbeaten 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow’s final league match.
- IPL 2026: Lucknow won only four matches and finished last; Pant scored 312 runs in 14 matches with an average of 33.61 and strike rate of 146.79.
- Pant managed only one fifty-plus score across IPL 2026.
When LSG landed Pant for Rs 27 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, the club positioned him as the cornerstone of a new phase. Along with making him the most expensive acquisition in IPL auction history, they also entrusted him with the captaincy straight away. But the franchise’s hopes have not translated into the results expected from such a landmark deal, and Pant’s own output has largely failed to match the excitement around his arrival.
IPL 2025 brought little relief. Lucknow ended the league stage in seventh place and missed the playoffs, while Pant’s batting season was a struggle. He finished with 269 runs, averaging 24.45 and striking at 133.17, with consistency proving hard to come by throughout the year. One innings stood out: his unbeaten 118 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Lucknow’s final league game, which at least prevented his overall figures from looking even more bleak.
Captaincy pressure and shifting batting roles
IPL 2026 offered no clear turnaround either. Lucknow managed just four wins in the entire season and again ended at the bottom of the table. Pant’s difficulties with form persisted, and his batting spot kept changing, underlining the uncertainty around his role and rhythm. At various stages he was used as an opener, deployed at No. 3, and even given responsibilities at No. 4.
By the time the IPL 2026 campaign concluded, Pant had scored 312 runs across 14 matches. The total was marginally improved compared to the previous season, but it still did not meet the expectations that come with a Rs 27 crore tag. His average rose to 33.61, with a strike rate of 146.79, yet he still managed only one score of fifty or more throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, Pant’s standing in India’s white-ball setup has also taken a hit over the past year. KL Rahul has established himself firmly in the ODI squad, while Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have climbed further ahead in the T20 pecking order. Samson’s case has been especially strengthened by his impact during the T20 World Cup, where he scored 321 runs and was named Player of the Tournament. Kishan, meanwhile, has returned to India’s ODI group, adding another layer of pressure on Pant’s position.
Selectors have also removed Pant from the role of India’s Test vice-captain, handing the responsibility to KL Rahul instead. That change has been widely viewed as another sign that Pant’s place in the national set-up is less assured than it looked earlier. With Pant now stepping away from captaincy at Lucknow, the franchise is expected to start reshaping its squad and leadership group for the next IPL season.
Heading into IPL 2027, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh have emerged as leading contenders to take over the skipper’s role. For LSG, the immediate task now is to reset after consecutive seasons of failing to reach the playoffs, and to build a combination that can deliver on-field results more consistently than it has over the last two years.
