IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant Steps Down as Lucknow Super Giants Captain
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) following two disappointing Indian Premier League seasons, the franchise confirmed on Friday.
Pant’s decision comes after LSG failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons under his leadership. The franchise had placed huge faith in the star cricketer after buying him for a record-breaking ₹27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction.
However, the move did not deliver the expected results for the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side.
Lucknow Super Giants finished seventh in the IPL 2025 points table after managing just six wins during the season. Their performance declined even further in IPL 2026 , where the team ended at the bottom of the standings with only four wins in 10 matches.
Rishabh Pant also struggled to make a major impact as captain during the two campaigns, with mounting pressure on the franchise after consecutive poor finishes.
The development now raises fresh questions about LSG’s leadership plans ahead of the next IPL season and who could take over the captaincy role in the future.
Pant remains one of India’s biggest cricket stars despite the difficult IPL stint, and fans will now be keen to see how both the player and the franchise move forward after this major decision.
Pant’s decision comes after LSG failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons under his leadership. The franchise had placed huge faith in the star cricketer after buying him for a record-breaking ₹27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction.
However, the move did not deliver the expected results for the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side.
Lucknow Super Giants finished seventh in the IPL 2025 points table after managing just six wins during the season. Their performance declined even further in IPL 2026 , where the team ended at the bottom of the standings with only four wins in 10 matches.
Rishabh Pant also struggled to make a major impact as captain during the two campaigns, with mounting pressure on the franchise after consecutive poor finishes.
The development now raises fresh questions about LSG’s leadership plans ahead of the next IPL season and who could take over the captaincy role in the future.
Pant remains one of India’s biggest cricket stars despite the difficult IPL stint, and fans will now be keen to see how both the player and the franchise move forward after this major decision.
Next Story