Rishabh Pant steps down as LSG captain after IPL 2026 exit

Rishabh Pant has decided to step down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants after a dismal performance in IPL 2026. The IPL franchise confirmed through a post on X that they have accepted Pant's request to relinquish his captaincy role in the team. The decision was taken after LSG's most disappointing season in 2026, which saw the team finish bottom of the points table. The team won only 4 out of 14 matches and failed. 

"Rishabh approached the franchise with this request, and we have respectfully accepted it," LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody said. "These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective - rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards." 

Official announcement. pic.twitter.com/7WeOwpkDr6

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 29, 2026

LSG had acquired Rishabh Pant for a record-breaking sum of Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. Team Owner Sanjeev Goenka also handed over the command of the team to him, but under Pant's captaincy, LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons. The team finished in 7th position last season as well. Along with the poor performance of the team, Pant was also seen struggling with his own batting form. In IPL 2025, Pant scored 269 runs in 14 matches, which included a century and a half-century in the last match.

However, this season was also not special for Pant, and his cricket score was only 312 runs in 14 matches, which included 1 half-century. Pant started the season as an opener, after which he also played at No. 3, 4, 5 and 6, but Pant could not leave any significant impact on his batting. Now it will be very interesting to see whether Rishabh Pant will remain in Lucknow Super Giants after leaving the captaincy or not.