LSG failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive time under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant.Image Credit source: PTI
Even before the end of the IPL 2026 season, a captain has been sacrificed. Captain Rishabh Pant of Lucknow Super Giants, who has performed worst this season, has resigned. Lucknow confirmed this by issuing an official statement. Under Pant’s captaincy, Lucknow stood 10th in IPL 2026. Pant’s own performance this season was also not good and he was under constant pressure. In such a situation, there were rumors in the middle of the season that Pant could be removed from the captaincy. In such a situation, questions are being raised whether Pant himself took this decision and then the team owners and management took such a step.
What did LSG say on Pant leaving the captaincy?
On Friday, May 29, when everyone was waiting for the second qualifier, in which Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals were to face each other, Lucknow issued a statement and just before that, the news of Pant leaving the captaincy came. In LSG’s social media post, the statement of the team’s Director of Cricket Tom Moody said, “Lucknow Super Giants would like to formally announce that Rishabh Pant Expressed his desire to relinquish the responsibility of captaincy, which the franchise has accepted with immediate effect.
Official announcement. pic.twitter.com/7WeOwpkDr6
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 29, 2026
Moody further said in his statement that Rishabh himself had approached the franchise with this decision, which was respectfully accepted. He thanked Rishabh Pant for his contribution and said that such decisions are never easy. Moody insisted on rebuilding the team before the next season. However, at present it has not been told who will be the next captain of the team.
Did he leave the captaincy himself or was he removed?
However, a question is arising regarding this decision whether Pant has actually left the captaincy himself or has the management removed him? This question arises because as soon as LSG was out, Tom Moody had given a statement in which there were indications of a change in leadership. Moody had said after the team’s last match that perhaps the pressure of captaincy was reflected in Pant’s performance. He also said that the team will take cognizance of all these issues and discuss them. In such a situation, it would not be surprising if Pant’s resignation himself is not completely accepted.
How was Captain Pant’s performance in LSG?
As far as Pant’s journey in LSG is concerned, it started in November 2024, when Lucknow bought him in the mega auction by bidding Rs 27 crore. With this, Pant also became the most expensive player in IPL history. Pant was also appointed the captain of the team along with him. However, under his captaincy, Lucknow failed to reach the playoffs in both the seasons. In IPL 2025, Lucknow won only 6 out of 14 matches and the team stood seventh. Whereas in 2026, the team won only 4 out of 14 matches and remained at 10th position.
Pant himself has performed very poorly with the bat during this period. In the first season as Lucknow captain, he could score only 269 runs in 14 matches. He did score a century but it came in the last match of the team, when it was already out of the race for the playoffs. Although the team lost that match also. In the current season, Pant made a strong start but could still score only 312 runs in 14 matches in the entire season, in which there was only 1 half-century.
