Rishabh Pant steps down as LSG captain after disastrous IPL 2026
IPL 2026: After a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, Rishabh Pant has decided to step down as the Lucknow Super Giants skipper with immediate effect. Lucknow was the first team eliminated from IPL 2026 and won just four matches all season.
Following a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, Rishabh Pant has decided to step down as the Lucknow Super Giants captain with immediate effect. LSG confirmed the news on Friday, May 29 and said that they have accepted the request from Pant to be relieved of the captaincy duties. Pant was the dream signing for Lucknow during the IPL 2025 auction as he was bought for Rs. 27 Crore by the franchise.
However, during the two seasons as the skipper of the side, Pant failed to inspire the team to the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the table in the IPL 2026 season. Lucknow mustered up only four wins from 14 matches. This followed an underwhelming 2025 season, where they won just six matches out of 14 games, meaning that Pant had a total of 10 wins during his 28 matches in charge of the team.
INSIDE STORY: WHY PANT LEFT LSG CAPTAINCY
"Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wish to formally announce that Rishabh Pant has requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties with the franchise, and the franchisee has accepted his request with immediate effect," read the statement from Lucknow.
During this time, Pant's batting form also dipped. Pant scored just 269 runs from 14 matches in 2025 and could only score 312 during this year.
Tom Moody, who had hinted at a change in guard at LSG after their horrendous 2026 campaign, said that the decision to accept Pant's call to step down as the skipper but was grateful for his contribution for the team.
“Rishabh approached the franchisee with this request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective — rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards,” said Moody in the press release.
PANT'S RECORD AS LSG CAPTAIN
Pant had joined LSG after a good IPL 2024 season with Delhi Capitals, scoring 446 runs from 13 matches. However, in 28 matches for LSG, he scored 581 runs at an average of 26.4 and a strike-rate of 135.74. He scored a hundred and just two fifties during this period.
Lucknow will now go back to the drawing board and look to find a new captain. They do have contenders in their ranks in the form of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, who have captained their national teams during their careers.
Following a disastrous IPL 2026 campaign, Rishabh Pant has decided to step down as the Lucknow Super Giants captain with immediate effect. LSG confirmed the news on Friday, May 29 and said that they have accepted the request from Pant to be relieved of the captaincy duties. Pant was the dream signing for Lucknow during the IPL 2025 auction as he was bought for Rs. 27 Crore by the franchise.
However, during the two seasons as the skipper of the side, Pant failed to inspire the team to the playoffs and finished at the bottom of the table in the IPL 2026 season. Lucknow mustered up only four wins from 14 matches. This followed an underwhelming 2025 season, where they won just six matches out of 14 games, meaning that Pant had a total of 10 wins during his 28 matches in charge of the team.
INSIDE STORY: WHY PANT LEFT LSG CAPTAINCY
"Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wish to formally announce that Rishabh Pant has requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties with the franchise, and the franchisee has accepted his request with immediate effect," read the statement from Lucknow.
During this time, Pant's batting form also dipped. Pant scored just 269 runs from 14 matches in 2025 and could only score 312 during this year.
Tom Moody, who had hinted at a change in guard at LSG after their horrendous 2026 campaign, said that the decision to accept Pant's call to step down as the skipper but was grateful for his contribution for the team.
“Rishabh approached the franchisee with this request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective — rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards,” said Moody in the press release.
PANT'S RECORD AS LSG CAPTAIN
Pant had joined LSG after a good IPL 2024 season with Delhi Capitals, scoring 446 runs from 13 matches. However, in 28 matches for LSG, he scored 581 runs at an average of 26.4 and a strike-rate of 135.74. He scored a hundred and just two fifties during this period.
Lucknow will now go back to the drawing board and look to find a new captain. They do have contenders in their ranks in the form of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, who have captained their national teams during their careers.
