Sanjiv Goenka rejected Rishabh Pant’s resignation as LSG captain, but a twist fo
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise has found itself at the center of a major Indian Premier League (IPL) storm following the conclusion of their disappointing 2026 campaign. While it was widely reported that the star wicketkeeper-batter stepped down after the team’s last-place finish, behind-the-scenes revelations indicate a far more complicated timeline. It has now come to light that Sanjiv Goenka rejected Rishabh Pant‘s resignation as LSG captain, but a twist followed as the star player remained steadfast in his decision to step away from the leadership role, culminating in an eventual parting of ways regarding team leadership.
The Mid-Season Drama: Inside Rishabh Pant’s Repeated Resignation Attempts
According to recent reports, Rishabh Pant’s departure from the Lucknow Super Giants captaincy was not a sudden post-season decision. Instead, it was the culmination of multiple attempts by the marquee player to relieve himself of the leadership burden during the high-pressure tournament. Journalist Nikhil Naz of India Today revealed that Pant had actively tried to step down from the captaincy in the middle of the IPL 2026 season, long before the final standings were confirmed.
The timeline of events suggests that Pant first approached the LSG management and franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka when there were still four to five league matches remaining. At that juncture, LSG’s playoff hopes were rapidly slipping away. However, Goenka was not in favor of a rushed transition. The franchise owner rejected the resignation, advising Pant not to make any hasty decisions in the heat of a difficult campaign. Goenka sought to reassure the captain, pointing out that bad seasons are an inevitable part of competitive sports and urging him to maintain stability for the remainder of the tournament.
However, the twist in the tale came when Pant refused to back down. After playing a few more matches, the captain returned to the franchise management and reiterated his desire to quit. Once again, Goenka attempted to convince him to stay, expressing the franchise’s long-term vision of having Pant lead the squad. It was only toward the very end of the season, after Pant consulted with the coaching staff and expressed his final, unyielding stance, that the LSG ownership reluctantly accepted his decision to step down.
LSG’s Disastrous IPL 2026 Campaign
The off-field leadership struggle mirrored the team’s struggles on the pitch. After finishing seventh in the IPL 2025 season, the Lucknow Super Giants hoped for a strong resurgence in 2026. The season started on a relatively promising note, with the franchise securing two victories in their opening three matches. However, the momentum quickly evaporated during the crucial middle phase of the tournament.
LSG suffered a catastrophic slide, losing six consecutive matches. This extended losing streak effectively eliminated them from playoff contention well before the league stage concluded. Although they managed to claim two consolation wins in their final five fixtures, the damage had already been done. LSG finished tenth on the points table, becoming the very first team to be mathematically knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoffs.
This failure marked a frustrating milestone for the Lucknow-based franchise. Having successfully qualified for the playoffs in each of their first two seasons after entering the league in 2022, LSG has now failed to reach the top four for three consecutive seasons (2024, 2025, and 2026). This prolonged slump has put immense pressure on both the management and the high-profile playing roster.
The Heavy Burden of the IPL’s Most Expensive Contract
Rishabh Pant’s role under the spotlight was further intensified by his historic price tag. Pant joined the Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2025 season for a staggering fee of Rs 27 crore per year, making him the most expensive signing in the history of the Indian Premier League. With such an unprecedented financial commitment, the expectations were sky-high, both for his tactical leadership and his explosive batting performances.
Unfortunately, Pant has struggled to justify the massive investment over his two seasons with the franchise. In IPL 2025, despite recording a century and a half-century, he managed only 269 runs across 14 matches. This translated to a disappointing average of 24 and a strike rate of 133, figures far below his lofty standards.
While his statistical output showed slight improvement in IPL 2026, it remained insufficient to turn the team’s fortunes around. Over his 14 appearances in 2026, Pant accumulated 312 runs at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 136, including a single half-century. Collectively, across his two seasons with the Lucknow Super Giants, Pant has scored 581 runs in 28 matches, maintaining an overall average of 26 and a strike rate of 136.
How Pant Compares to Rival Captains
When placed in perspective against other leading figures in the tournament, Pant’s struggles become even more apparent. Among the seven specialist batters who held full-time captaincy roles for their respective franchises across both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Rishabh Pant registered the lowest batting average. Furthermore, his strike rate of 136 was the second-lowest within this elite peer group.
These underwhelming returns, combined with the immense pressure of leading a struggling franchise, clearly took a toll on the player, ultimately prompting his multiple attempts to resign. While the coaching staff and ownership eventually accommodated his request, the transition leaves Lucknow Super Giants with significant questions to answer as they look to restructure their leadership group and rebuild their squad for future seasons.
What Lies Ahead for Lucknow Super Giants?
With Pant stepping away from the captaincy duties, the franchise faces a major transition period. However, there are indications that the team plans to maintain some stability amidst the leadership shake-up. Reports suggest that head coach Justin Langer and key player Nicholas Pooran have survived the immediate LSG overhaul following their IPL failure, ensuring some continuity in the coaching and core strategy setup as they prepare for the next chapter.
