At a glance
- Former Indian players suggest Rishabh Pant to step down for the captain role
- LSG on bottom of IPL 2026
- Rishabh Pant batting form affected due to captaincy role
Rishabh Pant has failed to deliver for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in two consecutive seasons. During the IPL 2025 auction, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) bought Pant for Rs. 27 crores. Currently, the Indian wicket-keeper is the most expensive player in IPL. Before the start of IPL 2025, Sanjeev Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants, made a statement on Rishabh Pant.
During an interview, he said people will remember Rishabh Pant the way they remember MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma for their legacy in the IPL. He expected the franchise to reach new heights under the leadership of Rishabh Pant. However, being a captain of the team is not an easy task for a player. The team finished seventh in last year’s IPL, winning six games and losing eight.
According to former India cricketers Rohan Gavaskar and Manoj Tiwary, LSG should release Rishabh Pant from captaincy duties. Following the defeat by MI, both pundits believe that Pant should not be the captain of the LSG and play as a batter.
Under the captaincy of Pant, LSG find themselves at the bottom of the table even after nine games. While the role of captaincy has also affected his batting. Pant has only scored 204 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 128.30 in nine games.
What Did Rohan Gavaskar Say on Rishabh Pant
In an interview with Cricbuzz, Gavaskar said that LSG should take Pant out of the firing line after the season and let him focus purely on his batting going forward.
“Sanjiv Goenka had once said in an interview that he wants Pant to create a legacy, play for LSG for the next 10–15 years and win trophies. But sometimes you’ve got to put certain players out of the firing line. After this season, LSG must decide whether they want to keep him as captain. He should be allowed to focus only on his batting, because we all know his capabilities and talent.”
“When the team performs badly, that pressure also falls on the skipper. So release him from that and allow him to play freely.”
Similar thoughts were expressed by Manoj Tiwary, who said that LSG should stop using Pant as captain and only use him as a batter.
“I feel that, under the pressure of captaincy, we are losing Pant the batter — someone who has performed in international cricket and the IPL previously. He is not getting those runs this season. So release him from the captaincy burden and let him play purely as a batter. That would be best for LSG.”
Also Read: What Is the Highest Ever Individual Score in T20 Cricket and Can Anyone Surpass Chris Gayle’s 175*?
Do LSG Have Other Options?
No sudden change in leadership is likely, regardless of the IPL results, but LSG can consider a new captain if things don’t improve. However, LSG have a good captain in waiting if they want an alternate captain figurehead.
The side can look towards Aiden Markram as an ideal replacement for Pant. The South African has good experience as a captain, as he has led a few IPL teams. However, Markram has a good record as captain in the SA20.
Under the leadership of Aiden Markram, Sunrisers Eastern Cape won two consecutive titles, making them the first team to do in the history of the SA20 League. Apart from Markram, LSG also has Mitchell Marsh in the team. Marsh is currently leading Australia in T20 cricket.
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