When established in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants looked like they had built a team that could give the original 8 franchises a run for their money. The ever-consistent KL Rahul was chosen to lead the side, and he took them to fourth place in their first season.
In 2024, though, everything they built came a little undone. LSG missed out on a playoffs spot in 2024 because of their poor net run rate. In one of the matches, owner Sanjiv Goenka publicly lashed out at captain KL Rahul after a poor show with the bat. And just like that, LSG were looking for a new captain in 2025.
Lucknow said ₹27 crores, and the Delhi Capitals were out. Later, the LSG think-tank said that ₹27 crores was the price for Rishabh Pant, especially since Shreyas Iyer had moved to Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore after a bidding war from DC.
This article will explore the top five reasons the Lucknow Super Giants ought to move on from him before IPL 2027 arrives.
Top five reasons LSG should release Rishabh Pant before IPL 2027
Across the two seasons, Pant has not delivered with either the bat or with his leadership. In 2025, he made 269 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133. And that included an innings of 118* against RCB in the last match.
In IPL 2025, Pant led his team to a 7th-place finish with just 6 wins in 14 matches. In 2026, his team has just 3 wins in 11 matches and might arguably finish lower. All of this has put significant pressure on both himself and his team.
2. Poor leadership
This year, he was mainly criticised for his decision to bowl Aiden Markram in the last over against CSK, over Shahbaz Ahmed. In all, he has been unable to keep a calm face, especially during his team's six-match losing run.
Ever since he debuted in the IPL all the way back in 2016, Rishabh Pant has been hailed as the future of T20 cricket with his audacious stroke-making. But that hasn't always come to fruition.
This is well reflected in his T20 international career. Despite playing 76 matches, Pant's career strike rate in the format has remained a modest 127. The Rishabh Pant of 2018, who made 600 runs at a strike rate of 173 in the IPL, seems to be long gone. As has the Pant who made a 32-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that same year.
4. Confusion about his role
Rishabh Pant has been visibly confused about not just his role, but that of his teammates as well. In the first match of this year, he opened the innings, and that did not go well at all.
Both Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran were forced to play in the middle order to accommodate Pant at No. 3, and neither of those batters could deliver in those positions.
5. There are alternatives present within the team
The big question right now is, if not Rishabh Pant, then who? Pant was specifically brought in to be captain, and if he is released, LSG might be left scrambling for options.
Marsh's Australia had to suffer a group stage exit in the two T20 World Cups he captained, but his captaincy record has been alright otherwise. Marsh has also arguably been LSG's most consistent batter across the last two seasons.
In both tournaments, South Africa were unbeaten before suffering a knockout heartbreak. An outside option is also Nicholas Pooran. Pooran's form with the bat has been absent in IPL 2026, but he is still among the best batters in the world in this format.
Also Read: LSG’s massive overhaul: Full list of players likely to be released after 2026 disaster
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