IPL: Pant quits captaincy after LSG’s disastereous last-place finish

Lucknow: Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants after the franchise crashed out of the IPL season without reaching the playoffs, marking a humiliating end to a disastrous campaign. Pant’s resignation came after a season in which Lucknow managed to win only four of their 14 matches and finished rock bottom of the points table with just eight points.

The franchise confirmed the development through an official statement, saying Pant had personally requested to be relieved of captaincy duties and that the management accepted the decision immediately. Pant led the side in 28 matches overall but could secure victories in only 10 games, intensifying criticism over both his leadership and batting failures.

The star wicketkeeper-batter, who was bought for a record fee ahead of the 2025 IPL season, endured a miserable run with the bat. In 14 matches, Pant scored only 312 runs at a strike rate of 138.05, far below expectations for one of the league’s costliest signings. His poor form became a major factor behind Lucknow’s collapse throughout the season.

Pant had joined Lucknow after spending eight seasons with Delhi Capitals and was quickly elevated to captain after KL Rahul left the franchise to join Delhi Capitals. However, the leadership transition failed badly as Lucknow struggled for consistency from the start of the campaign.

LSG cricket director Tom Moody said decisions of this nature were never easy and added that the franchise remained grateful for everything Pant brought into the dressing room as captain. Moody further said the team’s immediate focus was on rebuilding the squad collectively and restoring competitive standards.