Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) officially accepted Rishabh Pant’s request to step down as captain just days before the IPL 2026 final, bringing an underwhelming chapter to a close for both the player and the franchise. The decision came after LSG finished at the bottom of the 10-team table, ending a disappointing campaign that never really found momentum.

In a brief statement on their website, the franchise said Pant had personally approached them with the request and that they had agreed to it with respect. LSG also thanked the wicketkeeper-batter for his contribution as captain, while stressing that the team’s immediate focus now was on rebuilding and restructuring ahead of the next season.

Soon after the announcement, reports surfaced suggesting that Pant could be on his way back to Delhi Capitals, the franchise he represented for eight seasons. According to those reports, the proposed trade could see Kuldeep Yadav move to LSG. There were also claims that Pant was ready to accept a pay cut to facilitate a return to DC, where he spent some of the most important years of his IPL career.

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However, a fresh report has now thrown a different light on the situation. According to that account, Pant did not voluntarily give up the captaincy but was instead removed by the LSG management. It further suggested that the 28-year-old then decided to move on, feeling undervalued in the process.

🚨 BIG UPDATE ON RISHABH PANT 🚨

– According to reports from sources, the LSG management had removed Rishabh Pant from the captaincy. Rishabh Pant himself never wanted to leave LSG. (Cricblogger) pic.twitter.com/sh02kLjMs1

— lndian Sports Netwrk (@IS_Netwrk29) June 22, 2026

“Questions are being raised over the haste with which Pant was removed as captain immediately after the IPL season. At the same time, Pant too appeared keen to secure a move elsewhere rather than continue with a franchise where he no longer felt valued,” Cricblogger quoted a source as saying.

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LSG had spent a massive ₹27 crore to secure Pant at the IPL mega auction, making him the most expensive player in IPL auction history at the time. But after only two seasons, that big-money partnership now appears to be close to ending.

Pant’s time at LSG was marked by scrutiny, both for the team’s poor results and his own inconsistent batting returns. In 28 matches, he scored 581 runs at a strike rate of 135.7.