Rishabh Pant Warned Against Following MS Dhoni With LSG Captaincy At Stake
The Disastrous IPL 2026 Campaign for Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ended their IPL 2026 campaign on a highly disappointing note after suffering another heavy defeat against Punjab Kings. This final loss officially pushed LSG to the very bottom of the tournament points table. Consequently, the disastrous season has triggered intense discussions regarding captain Rishabh Pant’s future as the leader of the franchise.
The season turned out to be a nightmare for Pant and his squad. LSG managed to secure victory in only four out of their 14 league matches, finishing their campaign with a mere eight points. With the team failing to find any momentum, Pant’s captaincy has come under serious scrutiny.
Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Under Serious Scrutiny
Statistically, Rishabh Pant’s leadership record with Lucknow presents a major challenge. Since taking over the reins last season, he has captained the team in 28 matches, out of which LSG suffered defeats in 18 games. Under his leadership, the franchise failed to qualify for the Playoffs in consecutive seasons. Furthermore, the burden of captaincy seems to have taken a heavy toll on his primary skill—his batting. Pant managed to score only 312 runs this season at an average of 28.36, which is far below expectations for a world-class player of his quality.
Ambati Rayudu’s Big Advice to the LSG Skipper
In light of LSG’s struggles, former India batsman Ambati Rayudu has offered some strong advice to the under-fire skipper. Rayudu suggested that Pant should step away from his leadership role to focus entirely on his batting. He pointed out that Pant’s captaincy style heavily mirrors that of his idol, MS Dhoni, but noted that this particular approach has failed to yield positive results for LSG.
Analyzing the situation, Rayudu remarked: “His (Pant’s) idol has always been MS Dhoni. We have seen him talk about him, and MS Dhoni’s captaincy is very, very similar. He is very instinctive, so he might be following that path, which the coaching staff might not be compatible with.”
Rayudu further added: “So, there are so many things; unless and until we hear from Pant as to what his captaincy style is, we can only assume what he’s going through or what he’s thinking. But from the looks of it, he is very, very instinctive and impulsive sometimes. I think the best thing he can do is play as a player.”
The Flaws of Copying the MS Dhoni Captaincy Model
MS Dhoni is widely celebrated for his calm, collected, and highly instinctive approach on the field. This unique style of leadership guided the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to multiple IPL championships over the years. However, trying to replicate this highly individualized style has proved unsuccessful for Rishabh Pant at Lucknow.
Interestingly, history shows that even Dhoni’s instinctive leadership did not guarantee success outside of his primary franchise. During his stint with the Rising Pune Supergiants, Dhoni’s leadership style struggled to produce results. In 2017, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka made the bold decision to remove Dhoni from the captaincy, appointing Steve Smith as the new skipper instead. This historical precedent reinforces the argument that Pant might be better off relinquishing the captaincy to focus solely on his individual game.
Why Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Is Being Criticised
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, Pant’s tactical decisions on the field faced consistent criticism from cricket experts. Several key areas of concern emerged, including defensive field placements, confusing bowling plans during the critical death overs, and questionable decisions regarding Decision Review System (DRS) calls. Additionally, the team’s management and timing of Impact Player substitutions frequently raised eyebrows, indicating a lack of cohesion on the field.
Beyond tactical struggles, the mental pressure of his historic price tag cannot be ignored. LSG acquired Pant for a staggering Rs 27 crore ahead of the 2025 season, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. This record-breaking price tag naturally created immense expectations from the franchise management and fans. Unfortunately, Pant was unable to deliver consistently, either as a premier batsman or as an inspiring leader.
An Uncertain Future: LSG Set to Review Leadership
Following the conclusion of their final league game, LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody made it clear that changes could be on the horizon. Moody admitted that the franchise would conduct a thorough review of the team’s leadership before the next season begins. “When it comes to the leadership of the franchise, that is something we will be giving very serious consideration to in terms of what it looks like in the future,” Moody stated.
Rishabh Pant remains one of India’s most naturally gifted and destructive cricketers. His aggressive batting has won countless matches in the past. However, the heavy burden of captaincy currently appears to be hindering his natural flair. Stepping away from the captaincy could be the ideal move for Pant to rediscover his confidence, reclaim his batting rhythm, and play with the uninhibited freedom that makes him such a dangerous player on the world stage.
