IPL 2026 may still be unfolding, but the early shake-ups are already under way for franchises that stumbled in the league phase. On Friday, Rishabh Pant stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants, a campaign that ultimately left the side rooted to the bottom of the table. Around the same time, Mumbai Indians’ roller-coaster run as Hardik Pandya’s era as skipper appears set to end as well, with the five-time champions finishing second-last.
Leadership changes and likely next moves
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Rishabh Pant resigned as Lucknow Super Giants captain on Friday after a disappointing season for the franchise.
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Hardik Pandya’s association with Mumbai Indians as captain is expected to be wound up soon following MI’s finish in the lower end of the standings.
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There is also a sense that Pandya wants a fresh start and could be made available in the trade window rather than remaining with MI.
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Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders have been floated as possible landing spots for Pandya, though the door remains open for other teams as well.
The context for the decisions is closely tied to how both franchises and their captains performed during the season. Lucknow had handed Pant the captaincy after securing him with a bid worth Rs 27 crore, a figure that made him the most expensive player in IPL history at the time. Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, reignited its own drama by bringing Hardik back from Gujarat Titans and naming him captain, replacing Rohit Sharma—who had been India’s captain across all three formats.
Why Pant stepped down
For Pant, the call came after a pair of underwhelming seasons. LSG director Tom Moody later confirmed on social media that Pant had asked the franchise to relieve him of his captaincy responsibilities. Moody said the request was received and accepted respectfully, adding that the management’s priority would now shift toward collective rebuilding and restructuring ahead of future targets.
Further indications suggest Pant wants to concentrate fully on cricket with a critical international stretch approaching. He has also recently been removed from the role of Test vice-captain. In addition, he was dropped from the ODI squad after spending roughly two years on the bench with Team India.
Inside the development, it has been described that Pant is seeking a clearer mindset for the road ahead. The view within the LSG setup is that, given his history of strong comebacks, a focused international season could help restore his rhythm and confidence heading into the next IPL. The management also believes that if he can regain momentum, it will benefit both his own form and the franchise’s plans. The broader message from those close to the matter is that taking some time away from the captaincy pressure could be better for both parties before finalising the next steps.
Hardik’s exit and the captaincy chessboard at MI
On the Mumbai front, an exit as captain could arrive formally sooner rather than later. One report suggests that Hardik is “done” with MI and is preparing to leave the franchise. Depending on how negotiations shape up, he could move to Delhi Capitals—where a potential trade could involve India left-arm spinner Axar Patel—or be dealt to Kolkata Knight Riders in exchange for players such as Cameron Green, Varun Chakravarthy, or Rinku Singh. Importantly, it has also been noted that other franchises could still show interest as the trading window approaches.
As MI looks toward its next captaincy cycle, there is already talk inside the dressing room about who might take charge. During a mid-season review, a senior player reportedly pointed to Tilak Varma as the ideal candidate to wear the captain’s armband next year, given his time with the franchise over recent seasons. At the same time, other internal options have not been ruled out—especially India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who made his IPL captaincy debut for MI in a match this season.
The same discussion also suggests MI may want to reduce the workload and prominence of one senior batter while offering him a “different” role. The message is that the franchise needs a reset, and that the “refresh” has to happen quickly to set the next cycle in motion. Even if Surya and Bumrah both look like strong candidates, any final decision would likely weigh Surya’s extended lean period and the practical need to manage Bumrah’s workload carefully.
With these two captaincy shake-ups in motion, the wider IPL leadership landscape may not be limited to Pant and Pandya. There is a sense that other skippers could also face tough conversations if their teams fail to meet expectations, as disappointed managements search for changes that can alter the fortunes of their sides.
For now, the focus across IPL circles is on what happens next—who lands where in the trade window, and which franchises press the right reset button ahead of the next season. Keep an eye on IPL Live Score updates and the latest IPL news, along with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap race as the tournament continues.
