IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant’s captaincy under threat after LSG's dismal season

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered a seven-wicket loss against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Ekana Stadium on May 23 in their last Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match. It was a disappointing season for them with just four wins in their 14 matches. 

After the loss, LSG’s Director of Cricket Tom Moody reflected on a below par season for them, and provided his thoughts on how they plan to overcome failures and build future at the franchise.

“I know this season has been a difficult one for us, but we will reflect on it. We’ll take time, consider all aspects, and assess things properly. Certainly, we haven’t lived up to the expectations or the standards we set for ourselves. When it comes to the leadership of the franchise, that is something we will be giving very serious consideration to in terms of what it looks like in the future,” Tom Moody said at the post-match press conference.

After a disappointing season, not just as captain but as a batter too, LSG captain Rishabh Pant is under immense pressure, and his future at the franchise looks bleak. He was bought by LSG for a record-breaking price of INR 27 crore in the IPL auction. The left-hander ended his season with just 312 runs under his belt at a modest strike rate of 138.05.

Moody further hinted at few possible changes, including a possible captaincy change, after a disastrous IPL 2026. Despite all of that, Moody also mentioned that everyone is responsible for the poor performance and not just one individual.

“Like every department, when you reflect on a season, we will be making considered decisions. It certainly looks like we need to consider a reset.

“We’re all responsible. I don’t think this is the time to point fingers at any individual. We all have to take accountability. As I said, now is not the time to put blame to any particular department. We need time to reflect on this calmly, but there are certainly things we need to address, and those will be addressed,” Moody concluded.

LSG has now failed to reach the playoffs for three consecutive seasons now.