India star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the franchise officially confirmed on Friday. The development comes after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign for the Lucknow-based side.
Pant was bought by LSG for a record ₹27 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction and was later appointed captain, replacing KL Rahul. The franchise had placed huge expectations on the left-handed batter, hoping he would lead the team into a new era.
However, LSG failed to deliver consistent performances under Pant’s leadership over the last two seasons. The team struggled throughout the ongoing season and finished near the bottom of the points table, leading to growing criticism over both team strategy and leadership.
According to reports, Pant voluntarily decided to step down from captaincy to focus more on his batting and overall performance. The franchise accepted his request with immediate effect and is now expected to begin the search for a new skipper ahead of the next IPL season.
Several names, including Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, are already being discussed as possible candidates for the leadership role. Meanwhile, cricket experts believe the decision could help Pant regain his attacking form without the added pressure of captaincy responsibilities.
Pant remains one of the key players for LSG and Indian cricket, and fans will now hope to see him return to his best as a batter in the coming seasons.
