After two unsatisfactory seasons, Rishabh Pant resigned as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). While Pant led the team to six victories in 14 games during his rookie season in 2025, they also failed to qualify for the playoffs. In IPL 2026, LSG finished last in the points table with four wins in 14 games. The team confirmed the left-hander’s resignation in May, ending his time as captain. They sent the wicketkeeper-batter to the Delhi Capitals in exchange for Kuldeep Yadav.
Wasim Jaffer, a former India opener, has now spoken on Pant’s potential for leadership in the future. According to Jaffer, if the Delhi Capitals give Pant the captaincy position, the wicketkeeper-batter should turn it down and concentrate solely on his playing abilities.
Jaffer emphasised the many demands made of an IPL captain. The former opener noted that being captain entails pressure from team owners, crowd expectations, and the requirement to concurrently maintain personal excellence. Taking on captaincy would be an additional strain for a player like Pant, who is also responsible for batting and wicketkeeping, which can have an impact on his overall contribution to the team.
Rishabh Pant position in India’s white-ball teams has been lost, and Jaffer thinks the emphasis should be on getting him back on track. The former opener emphasised that Pant’s top objective should be to do well in the IPL and return to the One Day International and T20 International teams.
Rishabh Pant journey back to his white-ball form
Jaffer compared himself to KL Rahul, who resigned as captain and has been relishing his time as a player without the extra duties. The former opener recommended that Pant take a similar course and focus more on his personal success than on leadership responsibilities.
