Lucknow Super Giants could be in for a significant change after a disappointing IPL 2026 run, with global cricket director Tom Moody admitting the franchise did not reach the standards it expects of itself. The campaign proved to be among the toughest in the team’s history: LSG won only four matches across the season and ended inside the bottom two of the points table, even after arriving with considerable optimism.
Moody spoke after the side’s loss to Punjab Kings, acknowledging that captain Rishabh Pant appeared to struggle with the weight of responsibility. He suggested the mounting pressure may have seeped into Pant’s batting, with the team’s overall outcomes mirroring that challenge.
“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 with 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’ll consider all things,” Moody said during the press interaction after the defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
He added that the franchise fell short of expectations on multiple fronts, and hinted that leadership decisions are likely to be part of the next steps. “But certainly we haven’t 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’s certainly something that we’ll be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that we’re needing to consider a reset,” Moody further said.
Pant’s batting output has also attracted scrutiny throughout his tenure with LSG. Earlier in his IPL career, he was widely viewed as one of the league’s most explosive hitters, with his 2018 season standing out when he struck 684 runs at a strike rate of 173.60. The next year, he produced another strong spell, scoring 488 runs at 162.66. However, in Lucknow colours, he has struggled to match those heights.
Across two IPL seasons with LSG, Pant has collected 581 runs at a strike rate of 135.74. Both his batting average and strike rate have dipped compared to his overall IPL career figures, adding to the discussion around his form and the impact of captaincy pressures.
LSG’s IPL 2026 Campaign
- Match 1 — 1 Apr: vs Delhi Capitals, Lucknow — Lost by 6 wickets
- Match 2 — 5 Apr: vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Hyderabad — Won by 5 wickets
- Match 3 — 9 Apr: vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata — Won by 3 wickets
- Match 4 — 12 Apr: vs Gujarat Titans, Lucknow — Lost by 7 wickets
- Match 5 — 15 Apr: vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bengaluru — Lost by 5 wickets
- Match 6 — 19 Apr: vs Punjab Kings, Mullanpur — Lost by 54 runs
- Match 7 — 22 Apr: vs Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow — Lost by 40 runs
- Match 8 — 26 Apr: vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow — Lost via Super Over
- Match 9 — 4 May: vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai — Lost by 6 wickets
- Match 10 — 7 May: vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Lucknow — Won by 9 runs (DLS)
- Match 11 — 10 May: vs Chennai Super Kings, Chennai — Lost by 5 wickets
- Match 12 — 15 May: vs Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow — Won by 7 wickets
- Match 13 — 19 May: vs Rajasthan Royals, Jaipur — Lost by 7 wickets
- Match 14 — 23 May: vs Punjab Kings, Lucknow — Lost by 7 wickets
