Former India middle-order batter Ambati Rayudu has called on Rishabh Pant to step away from the captaincy role at Lucknow Super Giants after a rough IPL 2026 campaign. Rayudu’s comments came after Lucknow’s final league match, where the Pant-led side were beaten by Punjab Kings by seven wickets, ending their group stage at the foot of the points table. Lucknow managed just eight points from 14 matches, a return that underlined the struggles the franchise faced throughout the season.
In the wake of the defeat at Lucknow, LSG’s Director of Cricket Tom Moody suggested that changes at the top could be considered. Moody’s remarks added weight to the idea that the franchise may review its leadership setup following another disappointing outing in the tournament. Rayudu, meanwhile, went a step further by urging Pant to focus primarily on his batting and to consider relinquishing the captaincy.
Rayudu said Pant’s leadership approach, which has often been described as instinctive and reactive, may not be delivering the desired results, especially when compared with the kind of captaincy that has worked for others. He pointed out that Pant’s cricketing idol has been MS Dhoni and noted how closely Pant’s captaincy conversations and tendencies have mirrored the former India skipper. However, Rayudu argued that coaching staff and tactical support must align with the leader’s natural style, and he suggested that this fit might not be happening.
“His (Pant’s) idol has always been MS Dhoni. We have seen him talk about him, and MS Dhoni’s captaincy is very, very similar. He is very instinctive, so he might be following that path, which the coaching staff might not be compatible with. So, there are so many things; unless and until we hear from Pant as to what his captaincy style is, we can only assume what he’s going through or what he’s thinking. But from the looks of it, he is very, very instinctive and impulsive sometimes. I think the best thing he can do is play as a player,” Rayudu said.
During the post-match press interaction, Moody acknowledged that captaincy has been a difficult challenge for Pant and that the team’s results have mirrored those hurdles. He also raised the possibility that the pressure of leadership could have shown up in Pant’s batting performances, while stopping short of making a direct claim. Moody said the franchise would take time to reflect on the season and consider multiple aspects before deciding how to move forward.
Moody said, “From a captaincy point of view, you know, he’s found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that. And you do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected in his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we’ll take time, we’ll reflect on it. We will consider all things.”
Moody further admitted that Lucknow had not met the standards they expect from themselves and said the franchise will give serious thought to leadership going into the future. He described the season as one that requires a “reset,” implying that decisions may be made after a thorough review of the campaign across departments, not just in captaincy.
He added, “But certainly we have not lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves. And certainly when it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it is certainly something that we will be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like we need to consider a reset.”
