Lucknow Super Giants accept Pant’s resignation as captain following IPL 2026 collapse
The decision ends a two-year tenure marked by playoff failures and inconsistent batting, with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh emerging as frontrunners for the leadership role.
The Lucknow Super Giants have accepted Rishabh Pant’s request to be relieved of his captaincy duties with immediate effect, following the franchise’s last-place finish in the IPL 2026 season. The announcement, confirmed on Friday, concludes a two-year stint that began with high expectations but has resulted in consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.
Pant was acquired by the franchise for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, a move that positioned him as the central figure in the team’s new era. Instead of delivering the anticipated success, the side finished seventh in 2025 and slipped to the bottom of the standings in 2026, extending their drought of missing the knockout stages.
Individual performances have struggled to justify the significant investment. During the 2026 campaign, Pant scored 312 runs across 14 matches, averaging 33.61 with a strike rate of 146.79. Despite these figures representing a slight improvement on his 2025 tally of 269 runs, he recorded only one fifty-plus score throughout the season. His batting position fluctuated between opener, No. 3, and No. 4, reflecting uncertainty regarding his role within the lineup.
The leadership change coincides with a broader decline in Pant’s standing within the Indian national team setup. KL Rahul has assumed the role of Test vice-captain, a position previously held by Pant. In the white-ball formats, competition has intensified, with Sanju Samson strengthening his claim for the T20I side after winning the Player of the Tournament award at the T20 World Cup, and Ishan Kishan returning to the ODI squad.
With the captaincy vacancy now open, the Lucknow Super Giants are expected to initiate a leadership transition. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh have been identified as the leading candidates to replace Pant as skipper for the upcoming IPL season, as the franchise looks to stabilise after two underwhelming campaigns.
