Rishabh Pant has stepped away from the captaincy of Lucknow Super Giants after another disappointing IPL campaign in which the franchise ended at the foot of the standings. The call was made before the season’s final moments, reflecting the pressure that has been building around LSG’s results and Pant’s influence as a leader. For a squad that had been expected to push much higher, the decision marks the start of a leadership overhaul at a critical time.
Quick facts
- Rishabh Pant relinquished the captaincy of Lucknow Super Giants following a season where LSG finished last.
- The change happened before the tournament fully concluded, highlighting intensifying scrutiny.
- LSG’s director of cricket Tom Moody backed Pant’s move and urged him to focus on regaining his best form.
- Moody said Lucknow may need a leadership reset after three consecutive seasons of poor finishes.
- Moody did not confirm whether Pant will play for LSG next year, citing a full review after the league ends.
In many ways, the move has felt like an inevitability. Lucknow have struggled across two straight seasons, repeatedly falling short of expectations despite putting together a strong roster. Pant, meanwhile, has not consistently delivered with the bat, and the attention that comes with his INR 27 crore price tag has only sharpened the focus on his performances.
With LSG’s playoff hopes fading early and doubts growing over both team execution and individual form, Pant’s decision effectively closes a difficult chapter for the franchise. The captaincy switch is also positioned as a chance for him to refocus on his role as a batter—one that has often showcased his ability to take the game on and play with fearless intensity.
Moody backs Pant’s call
LSG director of cricket Tom Moody expressed full support for Pant’s choice. Moody said the wicketkeeper-batter needs to work on rediscovering his best rhythm after a couple of challenging seasons, both on and off the field. He also suggested that stepping down from captaincy could help Pant return to the aggressive, high-impact style that has made him one of India’s most exciting talents in T20 cricket.
Moody further pointed to how the past two years have been personally difficult for Pant and that he has not reached the standards he expects from himself. In Moody’s view, releasing the captaincy is the right step for Pant and also beneficial for the franchise, with hopes that it becomes a turning point that restores the brand of cricket everyone associates with him.
When asked whether the decision surprised the franchise, Moody indicated it was possible that it had already been discussed. He linked the move to a wider need for change, referencing LSG’s results over recent seasons and framing it as part of a broader rebuilding process aimed at returning to genuine contention.
Leadership reset and rebuilding
Moody said he had already raised the idea of a leadership reset at the end of the previous match, adding that the need for a review was clear to everyone. He cited that Lucknow’s finishes over the last three seasons were seventh, seventh, and 10th, arguing that the franchise must look at the structure and departments holistically to rebuild toward competing for titles.
He also noted that his own involvement in the setup began only in the past few months, but that from a long-term perspective, the franchise needs to assess every part of its cricketing operations. The aim, in Moody’s words, is to return to a team that can consistently compete in the business end of the tournament.
Moody was then asked whether Pant will be retained by Lucknow Super Giants next year. He stopped short of offering guarantees, emphasizing that the league is not finished yet and that the franchise will take time to debrief and review both the squad and its direction.
According to Moody, Lucknow will need a thorough process to decide what brand of cricket they want to play moving forward and how that should translate into roles within the team. Only after that evaluation will the franchise be able to provide clarity on Pant’s future beyond the current season.
