Legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn has launched a brutal attack on Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya after the disappointing IPL 2026 campaigns of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
Both teams failed badly in the league stage, with Mumbai Indians finishing ninth and Lucknow Super Giants ending the season at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table despite having star-studded squads. They have failed to deliver consistently and as a team this season.
After RR, RCB, GT, and SRH booked playoff spots in the IPL 2026, Dale Steyn slammed the body language and leadership style shown by both Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya during difficult moments this season. The Proteas legend believes that MI and LSG skippers were trying too hard to appear calm and relaxed, even when their teams were struggling badly on the field.
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Lucknow Super Giants had another terrible season under Pant’s leadership and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight year. The team struggled badly for consistency and managed only eight points from 14 matches.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians also had a forgettable campaign under Hardik Pandya. Despite having several big names in the squad, the five-time IPL champions failed to dominate the tournament and once again missed the playoffs under Hardik’s captaincy.
Good captains show frustration: Dale Steyn slams Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya
Dale Steyn told AB de Villiers on his YouTube channel; “I look at two captains in this IPL that did exactly the same thing that are trying to hide the pressure with a smile. Rishabh Pant's one and Hardik Pandya was the other. They are trying to hide that pressure doesn't bother them, that whatever is happening in the game, it doesn't matter. We will come back, you know. We've got great players and not once did they look like they were angry or upset, but that smile actually hides that. They actually fuming.”
Steyn made it clear that constantly giving positive reactions and talking about “coming back stronger” is not enough anymore as the franchises invest huge money, so they expect strong performances and a leader who shows frustration for poor performances.
The former South African pacer added, “They are professional. They want to win. They want their teams to do well. And good captains show frustration. Good captains will show that I'm angry, I'm pissed off, and we're going to get better at this. You know what I mean? Bad captains tend to hide behind a fake smile. And at the end of the season, they will still have a smile on their face and they'll say, ‘Don't worry, we'll address it and we'll come back.’ You can't just keep saying that.”
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Dale Steyn wants an aggressive new captain at Lucknow Super Giants
The former South African speedster has openly called for Rishabh Pant’s sacking after two poor seasons. Steyn suggested that Lucknow Super Giants need a tougher, aggressive, and demanding leader who can take full control of the dressing room and demand accountability from players, not like calm and smiley Rishabh Pant.
He signed off by saying, “They need somebody who's going to take the dressing room by the scruff of the neck, not with a smile on his face, and say, ‘Guys, this is serious business right now. There's a lot to play for in terms of the IPL. They are paying you a lot of money. This is a massive tournament. It's not a tournament where you can just come and sit here and laugh about it and finish Wooden Spoon. That's not good enough.’”
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