Lucknow Super Giants’ fall from grace has been swift, and the pressure is mounting as the franchise edges closer to a must-win phase in IPL 2026. After a promising start to the Gautam Gambhir era in their opening two seasons, LSG’s performances have steadily slipped: they finished seventh in the table in 2025, and the 2026 campaign has been even harsher. With only two wins from 14 matches last season, they have registered just two victories this year and are currently on a six-match losing streak—leaving the squad with little margin for error.
From early promise to a mounting crisis
Before IPL 2025, LSG made a headline-grabbing move in the mega auction, bringing Rishabh Pant into the fold. Owner Sanjiv Goenka had gone big with his backing, describing Pant as the “next MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.” Yet, as the season-by-season narrative has unfolded, Pant has not consistently delivered at the level that such billing suggested—either as captain or as a batter expected to set the tone.
As defeats have piled up in IPL 2026, criticism around Pant has intensified. Questions have been asked about his captaincy, his batting rhythm, and even whether he should be in the XI at all, with the debate widening beyond performance to his role as a leader. The scrutiny, however, has not been left unanswered within the coaching staff.
Justin Langer backs Pant amid the backlash
Head coach Justin Langer has repeatedly defended Pant, pointing to how the player can still operate at his best despite the difficult stretch. Langer—who previously saw Pant’s red-ball brilliance during the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar series while coaching Australia—has tried to shield the India wicketkeeper-batter from the relentless outside noise this year.
What Langer said after the Mumbai Indians defeat
Langer’s comments came after LSG’s loss to Mumbai Indians on Monday, a match in which Pant was dismissed for 15 off 10 balls.
- Langer referenced a practice game held “two days ago,” saying Pant produced a blistering knock of around 95 off 40 balls (or 30 balls, as he put it), describing it as a glimpse of Pant at his very best.
- He suggested that watching such batting firsthand makes it clear why Pant’s class remains intact, even when results on match days have not followed.
Batting order instability and the No. 4 debate
Beyond form, Pant’s season has also been shaped by changes to where he bats. He began as an opener, then was moved to No. 3, and in the ninth match of the campaign he returned to his more familiar No. 4 position.
- When Pant dropped to No. 3 earlier in the season, Nicholas Pooran benefited, returning to No. 3 and striking 63 off 21 balls.
- Even so, Langer acknowledged that Pant’s constant reshuffling has not helped him build a stable case for a long run in one spot.
Langer explained the thinking behind the latest order decisions, arguing that the team is always searching for the best combination depending on match context.
- He said Pant is a “very good player” and pointed out that he has previously destroyed teams in Test cricket at No. 5.
- Langer added that after a seven-day break, Pant’s batting in the lead-in match suggested it could be a useful option for the side.
- He also highlighted Pant’s willingness to move down the order, stating that Pant “selflessly moved down the order” to allow Pooran to bat at No. 3.
As captain and coach, Langer said the focus is on repeatedly showing up and doing the job required—hoping that the next few games bring the turnaround LSG desperately need.
- Langer said that in the IPL, leadership ultimately means “fronting up” each time.
- He expressed the hope that Pant will help LSG secure wins in the coming matches.
Pressure, price tag and captaincy: the performance question
While Pant is not being blamed as the only reason behind LSG’s struggles, the debate has widened to whether the role of captaincy—and everything that comes with it—has contributed to his dip in output. Critics have pointed to the burden of expectations, his reported price tag, and the pressure of leading a team that has struggled to gain traction.
Pant’s numbers across the last two seasons
- In 2025, Pant scored 269 runs in 14 games, with 118 arriving in a “dead rubber.”
- In IPL 2026, he has managed 204 runs in nine innings, striking at 128.30.
Langer pushed back on the suggestion that money is the root problem. Instead, he framed the issue as leadership pressure—something he believes Pant is learning to manage while still finding ways to contribute.
- Langer said he does not think “money has anything to do with it,” adding that leadership is tough and Pant carries a lot of pressure for the team.
- He noted that Pant performs with a smile most of the time—though Langer stressed that the remaining portion is the difficult part to handle.
- Langer stated that Pant is “chipping away,” working hard, and that he has already produced a match-winning performance this season.
- He said he enjoys seeing Pant smiling and playing in the swashbuckling style that fans expect from him.
What happens next for LSG
With LSG at a point where the season is turning into a battle for survival, attention is turning not only to Pant’s next innings, but also to the wider structure around the team. While Langer continues to defend Pant’s character and leadership intent, the franchise management now faces urgent questions as they try to steady the ship. For Lucknow, the margin for mistakes is rapidly disappearing as they look ahead to the remaining matches in IPL 2026.
