IPL 2026: LSG likely to remove Rishabh Pant from captaincy mid-season: Report
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is likely to shuffle leadership roles in the middle of the ongoing IPL 2026 season. As of now, Rishabh Pant is the captain of the team.
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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is likely to shuffle leadership roles in the middle of the ongoing IPL 2026 season. As of now, Rishabh Pant is the captain of the team. But if the reports are to be believed, then the team can consider someone else for the crucial role.
Ahead of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (LSG vs SRH) match, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday, April 5, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, it is reported that LSG may have a new leader this season, as Nicholas Pooran is tipped to take over captaincy duties from Rishabh Pant. Though there is no official confirmation regarding this.
Why LSG is considering captaincy change for Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant, who dealt with injuries ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League and lost his place in the T20I, has the pressure to prove himself again in the format. A few cricket experts believe that if the keeper-batter scores plenty of runs in his season, then he will have a chance to make a comeback in the T20 Internationals with Team India.
In the ongoing season, if the team management makes the swashbuckling batter free from extra burdens, then he can perform freely with the bat. In their previous match, against the Delhi Capitals, breaking the proven opening pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, LSG promoted Pant as an opener to combine with Marsh. The experiment proved futile as Pant lost his wicket in an unfortunate runout.
Team’s performance struggles in IPL 2026 campaign explained
LSG’s future in the league is also linked with the southpaw. If Pant can score runs at a consistent pace, it will be beneficial both for him and for the Lucknow Super Giants. In the previous season, Rishabh Pant’s captaincy was heavily criticized by the cricket pundits.
LSG finished their IPL 2025 season at the 7th position of the points table as they had 12 points in 14 matches after securing 6 wins and 8 defeats. As a batter, apart from the century against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a less important match, there was nothing more to tell about Rishabh Pant’s individual batting efforts.
Pant’s batting average was only 24.45 despite registering an unbeaten 118-run knock. Last year, in 14 matches and 13 innings, he scored a total of 269 runs with a strike rate of 133.16. In terms of batting average, it was the worst IPL season for the 28-year-old.
Fans react to shocking leadership change rumors
Cricket fans on the social media platform ‘X.’ “This is a welcome change. Rishabh Pant doesn’t deserve a place in the team right now, regardless of the captaincy,” a comment reads in the post. “Pant to interview: I was scared punjab kahi pick na karle,” another comment gave a reminder about the interview after Pant joined LSG in 2025.
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