Rishabh Pant Announces Departure as LSG Captain

Pant conveyed his decision to the franchise on Friday, with the news released in a statement by LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody.

“Rishabh formally requested a change in leadership, and we have respectfully accepted his decision,” Moody said. “While such choices are never simple, we appreciate the contributions Rishabh has made to our dressing room as captain. Our priority now is to concentrate on the collective — rebuilding and elevating our standards.”

Pant, aged 28, succeeded KL Rahul, who had captained the side for three seasons between 2022 and 2024.

After being released by Delhi Capitals, Pant was acquired by LSG at the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 27 crore (approximately USD 3.21 million), making him the most expensive player in IPL history.

In his inaugural address, Pant pledged to devote his full effort to LSG and expressed enthusiasm for a fresh start, stating he was eager to “begin anew with renewed energy, enjoy the experience, and have fun.”

However, success eluded both Pant and LSG; under his captaincy, the team secured ten victories and suffered eighteen defeats, finishing seventh in IPL 2025 and tenth in IPL 2026.

His personal batting performance also faltered across both seasons, amassing 269 runs at a strike rate of 133.16 in 2025 and 312 runs at 138.05 in 2026.

Shortly after the final league match of the season against Punjab Kings last week, Moody indicated that a leadership change would be considered as part of the season review.

He remarked, “It is natural to question whether external pressure has impacted his batting performance. While this season has been challenging for us, we will take the time to reflect, analyze, and evaluate all relevant factors.”

The statement did not specify a timeline for appointing Pant’s successor. It remains unclear whether the RPSG‑owned franchise will await the IPL auction, anticipated for December, to name his replacement.

LSG also possesses several senior overseas players — such as Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran — who are considered potential candidates for the captaincy.

Source link