The Dark Truth Of IPL: Story Of Rishabh Pant's Resignation Turned Out To Be Fake; LSG Had Stripped Him Of Captaincy!

New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. LSG also handed him the team's captaincy that same season. However, the team's performance was poor. 
Despite this, Pant was retained for 2026; yet, neither did he find his batting form, nor did the team perform well. Following the tournament's conclusion, LSG issued an official statement claiming Pant had decided to step down as captain. However, reports suggest this was not the actual story.

What happened to Rishabh Pant at LSG? 

In reality, speculation about Pant losing the captaincy had been circulating due to both his personal lack of form and the team's poor performance. LSG gained nothing despite the ₹27 crore investment; the team failed to even come close to qualifying for the playoffs over the last two seasons. Consequently, the captain was bound to face the consequences, but a narrative was crafted on social media suggesting Pant had voluntarily resigned—a claim that masked the true circumstances.
A report by CricBlogger claims that LSG's management actually stripped Pant of the captaincy. To preserve the reputations of both the team and the player, a statement attributed to Team Director Tom Moody was posted on social media, claiming Pant had resigned. 

What did the LSG statement say? 

Posting on X on Moody's behalf, the team stated, "Rishabh made this request to the franchise, and we have respectfully accepted it. Such decisions are never easy. We are grateful to Rishabh for everything he brought to the dressing room as captain. Our focus now is to rebuild and restructure, aiming to reach the highest standards together."
However, according to reports, the management had stripped Pant of the captaincy immediately after the IPL 2026 season. It was at that point that Pant decided to join a new team. He had also discussed the prospect of a new team with fellow cricketers and ultimately decided to return to the Delhi Capitals. A trade involving the Delhi Capitals and the Lucknow Super Giants could facilitate this move; Kuldeep Yadav might head to LSG, while Pant could return to Delhi.

Why Did LSG Hold Rishabh Pant Responsible? 

Media reports quoted officials as saying that the LSG management largely held Pant responsible for the poor 2026 season. According to those familiar with the matter, Pant faced more criticism from the team management regarding the team's performance in IPL 2026 than any other player or member of the squad. A source stated, "Questions are being raised about the haste with which Pant was removed from the captaincy immediately after the IPL season. At the same time, Pant appeared keen to move elsewhere rather than stay with a franchise where he no longer felt valued."