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A new twist has emerged in the Rishabh Pant-LSG captaincy saga. Pant resigned from the captaincy of Lucknow Super Giants on Friday after the team finished 10th in the IPL 2026 points table.
But, according to new reports, this was not the first time that Pant tried to tender his resignation as LSG captain. As India Today’s Nikhil Naz reports, Pant had actually attempted to resign midway through the season before being persuaded by franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka.
lsg in ipl 2026
After finishing 7th in IPL 2025, LSG looked like a team that could get itself back on track, but that did not happen.
The early part of the season went well, with the team winning two of their first three matches, but the middle stage saw them literally collapse. LSG lost 6 matches and were almost eliminated by the end of that streak.
There were two consolation wins in the last five matches, but that did not stop LSG from becoming the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race in IPL 2026.
Elimination in 2026 meant that LSG went three consecutive seasons without making the playoffs. LSG made the playoffs in each of its first two seasons since its establishment in 2022.
Rishabh Pant has come under criticism not only for his poor results as a leader but also for his poor returns with the bat.
Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 and 2026
Pant joined LSG in IPL 2025 for a fee of Rs 27 crore per annum, making him the most expensive signing in IPL history.
However, since then, he has been unable to live up to the expectations of the huge price tag and has had disappointing returns with the bat.
Last year, despite a century and a half-century, Pant was out after scoring 269 runs in 14 matches. His average was only 24 and strike rate was 133.
In 2026, Rishabh Pant technically improved his disgusting statistics compared to the previous year. This year he scored 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28 and strike rate of 136. He also had a half-century to his name.
Overall, in two seasons, Rishabh Pant has scored 581 runs in 28 matches at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 136. Among the 7 specialist batsmen who have been full-time captains of their teams in both IPL 2025 and 2026, Pant has the lowest average and second lowest strike rate.
Also read: No dismissal! Justin Langer and Nicholas Pooran spared LSG overhaul after IPL failure
“Rishabh Pant tried to resign twice” – Nikhil Naz
In a video that has now gone viral on social media, India Today’s Nikhil Naz said that Rishabh Pant’s resignation at the end of the season was not the first time he had tried to give up the LSG captaincy in 2026.
He said, “When he had 4-5 matches left in the IPL season, Rishabh Pant spoke to the LSG team management and owners and said that he did not want to continue as captain. However, at that time, Sanjiv Goenka did not want Pant to take any hasty decision.”
“Goenka tried to tell Pant that it was a bad season, and things like this keep happening, so don’t make any hasty decisions. Pant backed off, and after a few more games he said, ‘No, I’ve made up my mind.’ Once again the owner tried to persuade him to stay and said, ‘We see you as the captain, so please stay.’ But, once again, Pant came to the owners asking to step down,” Naz added.
He concluded, “At the end of the season, after Pant stated that in consultation with the coaching staff, he did not wish to continue, the owners decided to accept his wish.”
Rishabh Pant has told the management that he wants to leave the captaincy in the middle of the IPL.
Sanjiv Goenka asked him to continue, he did not want Pant to take any decision in haste and panic.
At the end of the season, Pant again asked to be relieved of captaincy duties. pic.twitter.com/PIolNS3tR2
— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) May 30, 2026