Lucknow Super Giants are likely to undergo a major overhaul following a disappointing IPL 2026 season, with global director of cricket Tom Moody admitting the franchise failed to meet expectations and hinting at serious discussions around leadership moving forward. LSG endured one of their worst campaigns in franchise history, winning just four matches all season and finishing in the bottom two of the points table despite entering the tournament with high expectations.Speaking after the defeat to Punjab Kings, Moody acknowledged that captain Rishabh Pant had struggled to cope with the pressure of leadership, with the poor results potentially affecting his batting performances as well.“From a captaincy point of view, you know, he’s found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that, and you do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected with his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we’ll take time, we’ll reflect on it. We’ll consider all things,” Moody said at the press conference after the loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS).“But certainly we haven’t lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves. And certainly when it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it’s certainly something that we’ll be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that we’re needing to consider a reset,” he added.Pant’s individual performances with the bat have also come under scrutiny during his stint with LSG. Once regarded as one of the most explosive batters in the IPL, highlighted by his sensational 2018 season where he scored 684 runs at a strike rate of 173.60 and his impressive 2019 campaign with 488 runs at 162.66, Pant has struggled to replicate those standards in Lucknow colours. Across two seasons for LSG, Pant has managed 581 runs at a strike rate of 135.74, with both his average and strike rate falling below his overall IPL career numbers.
Should Lucknow Super Giants change their captain after a disappointing IPL 2026 season?
LSG’s IPL 2026 Campaign
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 1 | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow | Lost by 6 wickets |
| 2 | Apr 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad | Won by 5 wickets |
| 3 | Apr 9 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata | Won by 3 wickets |
| 4 | Apr 12 | Gujarat Titans | Lucknow | Lost by 7 wickets |
| 5 | Apr 15 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bengaluru | Lost by 5 wickets |
| 6 | Apr 19 | Punjab Kings | Mullanpur | Lost by 54 runs |
| 7 | Apr 22 | Rajasthan Royals | Lucknow | Lost by 40 runs |
| 8 | Apr 26 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lucknow | Lost via Super Over |
| 9 | May 4 | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | Lost by 6 wickets |
| 10 | May 7 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow | Won by 9 runs (DLS) |
| 11 | May 10 | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai | Lost by 5 wickets |
| 12 | May 15 | Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow | Won by 7 wickets |
| 13 | May 19 | Rajasthan Royals | Jaipur | Lost by 7 wickets |
| 14 | May 23 | Punjab Kings | Lucknow | Lost by 7 wickets |
