Rishabh Pant Steps Down as Lucknow Super Giants Captain After Disappointing IPL 2026 Season

Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants following a lackluster IPL 2026 season, where the team finished last with only 4 wins. This unexpected decision has left fans surprised, especially as it occurred before the season's end. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested potential successors, including Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. Pant's tenure saw him join LSG for a hefty Rs 27 crore, but he struggled to lead the team effectively. The article delves into Pant's performance and the team's leadership history, including KL Rahul's previous captaincy.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 30, 2026, 12:01 IST

Rishabh Pant Resigns from Captaincy

Rishabh Pant has decided to resign as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) following a disappointing finish in IPL 2026, where the team ended up at the bottom of the standings. Under his leadership, LSG secured only 4 victories out of 14 matches. This unexpected move came as a surprise to fans, especially since it occurred before the season concluded. Pant joined LSG for a staggering Rs 27 crore, which added to the pressure for him to perform. As the franchise searches for a new captain, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested two potential candidates: Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. Marsh currently serves as the T20I captain for Australia, while Markram leads the Australian white-ball teams. Chopra also mentioned Josh Inglis, who is set to captain the ODI team against Pakistan on a temporary basis. Markram previously captained Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where he faced challenges, finishing last with only 4 wins in 14 matches. If LSG opts not to appoint either of these players, they may consider acquiring a new captain during the auction.

Rishabh Pant's Tenure as LSG Captain

Rishabh Pant's Performance as LSG Captain

Pant was acquired by LSG for Rs 27 crore during the IPL 2025 mega-auction and took on the captaincy role. During his time as captain, the team recorded six wins and suffered eight losses, finishing seventh in the points table with 12 points. Ultimately, LSG's performance in IPL 2026 saw them end up in last place with only 4 wins from 14 matches.

LSG's Leadership History

LSG's Performance Under KL Rahul

KL Rahul captained LSG from IPL 2022 to 2024, leading the team to the second round in both of their initial seasons. After Rahul's injury during IPL 2023, Krunal Pandya took over as captain for the latter half of the season. However, LSG struggled under Rahul's leadership in IPL 2024, failing to progress past the league stage. Subsequently, the team released him before the IPL 2025 mega-auction. Gautam Gambhir, who is currently the head coach of India, served as LSG's mentor during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.