After two disappointing seasons as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant stepped down from the role, as confirmed by the franchise on Friday, May 29.
The wicketkeeper-batter was roped in for a record-breaking INR 27 crore by LSG at the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him the most expensive player in the league’s history. He was subsequently appointed captain of the side, with owner Sanjiv Goenka pinning high hopes on the Delhi cricketer. However, in his first two seasons in charge, Pant led LSG to a No. 7 finish in 2025 and this year, the franchise had to settle for the wooden spoon.
Wasim Jaffer opined that irrespective of whether resigning was Pant’s personal call or the LSG management’s, the right decision has been made. The former India opener stated that Pant is reactive and impulsive, unable to control his emotions, which is important as a captain.
“I think it’s a good decision, whether it’s the franchise telling him or his own decision. A decision in the right direction. You are doing wicketkeeping and are reactive and impulsive. A captain should control his emotions. It’s not his mistake but his nature. He shouldn’t be the captain. He needs to accept that he can’t do things like planning or handling players,” Jaffer said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Jaffer suggested that either Mitchell Marsh or Aiden Markram could replace Pant as the skipper of LSG. Marsh and Markram are leading Australia and South Africa, respectively, in T20Is.
“He struggles as a leader. There’s nothing wrong, just play as a player. Good decision and in the right direction. Whether Mitchell Marsh or Aiden Markram leads the side, they have done it for their national sides. Aiden Markram especially has a sound temperament and does good captaincy. They can choose someone else as well,” Jaffer mentioned.
3 players who can replace Rishabh Pant as LSG captain
Nicholas Pooran is another potential candidate for the captain’s role. He has the experience of leading the West Indies in T20I cricket and has also donned the captaincy hat in franchise cricket.
