Rishabh Pant Steps Down as Captain of Lucknow Super Giants After Tough IPL Season

In a significant move, Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants after a challenging IPL 2026 season that saw the team finish last. Despite his efforts, Pant's performance as a batter was underwhelming, leading to this decision. The franchise has accepted his request to relinquish captaincy, emphasizing their gratitude for his contributions. Tom Moody, the Director of Cricket, highlighted the importance of focusing on rebuilding the team moving forward. This change marks a pivotal moment for the franchise as they aim to improve their standing in future seasons.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 29, 2026, 18:20 IST

Rishabh Pant Relinquishes Captaincy

Rishabh Pant, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, has stepped down from his role as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants following a disappointing 2026 IPL season, where the team finished at the bottom of the standings among ten franchises.

This season proved challenging for Pant, who managed to score only 312 runs across 14 matches. Reports from May 14 had indicated that he was likely to lose his captaincy, a sentiment confirmed by Tom Moody, the Director of Cricket for LSG.

In an official announcement, the franchise stated, "Lucknow Super Giants wish to formally announce that Rishabh Pant has requested to be relieved of his captaincy duties, and we have accepted his request effective immediately."

Moody elaborated, saying, "Rishabh approached us with this request, and we have respectfully honored it."

He further remarked, "Such decisions are never straightforward. We appreciate all that Rishabh has contributed as captain. Our priority now is to focus on rebuilding and restructuring to achieve the highest standards."