Lucknow Super Giants have ended a second straight disappointing IPL campaign with talk of a change at the top. A bottom-two finish in 2026, on the heels of seventh place in 2025, has pushed the club’s decision-makers towards what Tom Moody called a possible “reset”.
Key facts first. Under Rishabh Pant, installed as skipper two years ago, LSG have won 10 and lost 18. Pant’s own returns have slipped: 581 runs across those seasons, strike rate 135.74 – both well below his career marks. The side lost six of their last seven this year, the final defeat coming against Punjab Kings.
Facing the media after that match, Moody was candid. “From a captaincy point of view, you know, he’s found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that,” he said. “And you do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected with his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we’ll take time, we’ll reflect on it. We’ll consider all things.”
The Australian, who serves as global director of cricket, stopped short of confirming a change but hardly closed the door. “But certainly we haven’t lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves. And certainly when it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it’s certainly something that we’ll be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that we’re needing to consider a reset.”
Head coach Justin Langer struck a similar note last week, and several television pundits – Mark Boucher and Ambati Rayudu among them – wondered aloud whether Pant might flourish without the extra responsibility.
Moody insisted the review would be holistic: “I think we’re all responsible [for the disappointing season] … I don’t think it’s a time to point the finger at any individual. I think we all take accountability, and now’s not the time to be apportioning blame in any particular department. We all need time to reflect on it in a calm manner, but there’s certain things that we do need to address, and will be addressed.”
If LSG do swap skippers it would not be their first abrupt change. KL Rahul, who led the expansion outfit in its first three years, moved on after admitting he wanted a “lighter” atmosphere. For now, the franchise has a few quiet weeks before the auction cycle starts—time, Moody hopes, for clear-eyed reflection rather than knee-jerk reaction.
