The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 kicked off on Sunday, May 31, and it has already triggered a major leadership shake-up. Ahead of the season-opening clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Rishabh Pant stepped down as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The decision comes after LSG ended the previous campaign at the foot of the table, managing only four wins from 14 matches.
Quick facts
- IPL 2026 began on Sunday, May 31.
- Rishabh Pant resigned as Lucknow Super Giants captain before the start of IPL 2026.
- LSG finished last in the points table in the prior season with four wins in 14 games.
- LSG said Pant offered to step down and the franchise accepted the request.
- Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Pant’s decision just two years after he took over at LSG.
- Pant joined LSG ahead of IPL 2025 for INR 27 crore (reported as a record price).
- Gavaskar urged IPL coaches to adopt a calmer approach, citing Andy Flower’s RCB success.
- RCB won the title again in IPL 2026 by beating Gujarat Titans in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
LSG said in an official statement that Pant himself initiated the change, and the franchise agreed to his request. The move lands less than two years after Pant took the captaincy role, following his arrival at Lucknow ahead of IPL 2025. At that time, his signing was reported as a record deal worth INR 27 crore.
While Pant’s appointment came with high expectations, LSG struggled to build consistent momentum in the seasons that followed. The franchise’s finishes in the points table placed them in the bottom half, and his impact with the bat also failed to match the early promise. As the league seasons progressed, tensions reportedly surfaced as well, with cracks developing between Pant and the coaching group in Lucknow.
Coaching room tension at Lucknow
After a defeat, Pant pointed to what he described as an overload of input around him. He suggested there were “too many” coaches within the setup and that multiple opinions were influencing his thinking. Lucknow’s support structure for the IPL 2026 campaign included Justin Langer, Tom Moody, Bharat Arun, Lance Klusener, and Kane Williamson.
Sunil Gavaskar weighed in on the captaincy change in his column for Sportstar, noting that Pant’s departure so early in the role could signal further adjustments before the new season. He referenced Pant’s comments about the presence of “too many voices” and “too many thought processes,” describing it as hardly flattering to the support staff. Gavaskar added that while bold claims may grab headlines, cricket has a habit of delivering a reality check.
Gavaskar then shifted focus to what he believes coaches should learn from successful leadership models. He urged IPL teams to consider Andy Flower’s approach, highlighting that Flower, the head coach of RCB, has guided the franchise to back-to-back titles. In Gavaskar’s view, Flower is a coach who operates quietly and avoids dramatic public statements that draw constant attention.
The former India captain also contrasted Flower’s style with the kind of coach-player environment that can become headline-friendly for the wrong reasons. He specifically pointed to the idea that Flower does not surround himself with “golfing and beer-drinking” type companions within the support staff, implying a more disciplined, cricket-first culture. Gavaskar suggested there may be a lesson for those making coaching appointments, arguing that better understanding could prevent teams from falling out of contention before the tournament even reaches its first month.
As for IPL 2026 itself, RCB made history again by winning the trophy for the second year running. They secured the championship after defeating the Gujarat Titans in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
