Sanjiv Goenka rejected Rishabh Pant’s resignation as LSG captain, but a twist fo
Inside the LSG Captaincy Crisis: The Secret Mid-Season Drama
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) experienced a highly tumultuous IPL 2026 campaign, culminating in a bottom-of-the-table finish. While the team’s on-field struggles were apparent to everyone, a major storm was brewing behind closed doors. On Friday, Rishabh Pant officially resigned as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants after the team ended their season in a disappointing 10th position on the points table.
However, recent disclosures indicate that this was not the first time Pant had attempted to walk away from his leadership duties. According to a detailed report by Nikhil Naz of India Today, the star wicketkeeper-batter had actually tendered his resignation mid-way through the season. At that crucial juncture, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka stepped in to reject the resignation and assuage the captain, temporarily halting a leadership crisis.
The Back-and-Forth: How Sanjiv Goenka Tried to Save the Captaincy
The details of the internal negotiations paint a picture of a franchise desperately trying to keep its leadership intact during a downward spiral. Speaking in a video that has since gone viral on social media platforms, journalist Nikhil Naz shed light on the timeline of events that led to Pant’s eventual departure from the captaincy.
“When they had 4-5 games to go in the IPL season, Rishabh Pant spoke to the LSG team management and the owners and said that he doesn’t want to continue as captain. However, at that time, Sanjiv Goenka wasn’t keen about Pant taking a hurried decision,” Naz revealed.
Goenka reportedly urged Pant to remain calm, advising him that a single bad season is part of the game and should not prompt hasty decisions. Pant returned to the field, but the internal resolve did not change.
“Pant went back, and after a few more games, he said, ‘No, I’ve made up my mind.’ Once again, the owner tried to convince him to stay and said, ‘We see you as the captain, so please continue.’ But, once again, Pant came to the owners to quit,” Naz added.
Ultimately, as the season drew to a close and after further consultations with the coaching staff, Pant reiterated his stance. Recognizing that the captain was mentally checked out from the leadership role, the LSG management and Sanjiv Goenka finally decided to accept his wish and relieve him of his duties.
A Disastrous IPL 2026 Campaign for Lucknow Super Giants
The captaincy saga was a direct reflection of LSG’s dismal performance on the pitch. After finishing 7th in the IPL 2025 season, there was immense hope that the franchise would reconstruct its strategy and return to winning ways in 2026. Unfortunately, the exact opposite transpired.
The season actually started on a relatively positive note, with LSG securing victories in two of their opening three matches. However, the wheels completely fell off during the middle phase of the tournament. LSG suffered a catastrophic collapse, losing six consecutive matches—a streak that effectively knocked them out of playoff contention long before the league stage concluded.
Although they managed two consolation victories in their final five matches, the damage was already done. LSG earned the dubious distinction of being the very first team to be mathematically eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs. This failure marked the third consecutive season that the franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, a stark contrast to their inaugural years in 2022 and 2023 when they reached the playoffs in successive seasons.
The Weight of the 27 Crore Price Tag: Rishabh Pant’s Dismal Numbers
Rishabh Pant’s struggles were not limited to his tactical decisions as captain; his individual performances with the bat also drew heavy criticism from fans and pundits alike. Pant had joined Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 for a staggering fee of Rs 27 crore per year, making him the most expensive signing in IPL history. With such an unprecedented price tag came immense expectations, which Pant struggled to fulfill.
During the IPL 2025 season, despite registering one century and a half-century, Pant finished with a modest total of 269 runs across 14 matches, averaging a low 24 with a strike rate of 133. In the IPL 2026 season, his numbers saw a marginal statistical improvement, but they remained far below the standards expected of an elite international batsman. He accumulated 312 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 136, including a solitary half-century.
Over his two-season tenure with the franchise, Pant’s aggregate stands at 581 runs in 28 matches, with a combined average of 26 and a strike rate of 136. A comparative analysis reveals that among the seven specialist batters who served as full-time captains for their respective franchises in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Pant registered the lowest batting average and the second-lowest strike rate.
What Lies Ahead for Lucknow Super Giants?
With Rishabh Pant stepping down from the captaincy, the Lucknow Super Giants face a massive rebuilding phase. Despite the squad’s failure and the subsequent leadership overhaul, there will be some continuity in the management. Head coach Justin Langer and powerhouse batsman Nicholas Pooran are set to survive the post-season review and remain key figures in the LSG setup as the franchise searches for a new captain to lead them into the next cycle.
Rohan Kapoor is a cricket editor and sports content analyst based in New Delhi with over 6 years of experience covering IPL, T20 leagues, and international cricket. He specializes in match analysis, player statistics, and tactical breakdowns, bringing data-driven insights to modern cricket audiences across India.
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