Lucknow Super Giants’ Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, mentioned that Rishabh Pant’s decision to resign as captain in the IPL stems from his realization that it’s time to focus on playing rather than leading after facing challenges in the past two seasons. Pant, aged 28, was acquired for Rs 27 crore by LSG during the 2024 mega auction, becoming the costliest buy in IPL history. However, the team’s performance under his captaincy was lackluster, securing only 10 victories and suffering 18 defeats over two seasons, finishing seventh and tenth, respectively.
Pant’s individual batting performance was also not exceptional, with him scoring 269 runs in 2025 and 312 in 2026. Moody emphasized that Pant’s decision to step down is appropriate for both the player and the franchise, hoping it marks a positive turning point in his career. Moody highlighted the need for a leadership reset, considering LSG’s underwhelming results in the past three years, finishing seventh, seventh, and tenth consecutively.
Moody did not disclose the timeline for appointing a new captain for LSG, but indicated that senior overseas players like Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran are strong contenders for the role. Markram, who leads LSG’s sister franchise in SA20, is expected to captain their team in The Hundred tournament in England this year. Regarding Pant’s future with LSG, Moody stated that it is premature to make decisions, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the squad post-tournament to determine the team’s strategic direction and player roles moving forward.
