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Time To Replace Rishabh Pant? Why Nicholas Pooran Should Lead LSG In IPL 2026?

Anurag Dasgupta

Pooran over Pant for captaincy [Source: AP Photo] Pooran over Pant for captaincy [Source: AP Photo]

The inevitable happened and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) got knocked out of the IPL playoff race after losing Vs the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The team looked disjointed right after the mega auction last year and the cracks were visible as the bowling looked weak, but more importantly, their captain failed.

Rishabh Pant, the LSG captain became the most expensive player in the league when the franchise splashed 27 crores on him. However, the captaincy pressure took a toll on him and he could only amass 135 runs in 12 matches. 

From the next season onwards, Nicholas Pooran, the senior batter should take over the captaincy duties from Pant and here are two key reasons for it.

1) Pant's failure to deliver under captaincy burden

Prior to the IPL 2025 season, Pant had a brilliant IPL record, but the captaincy pressure, combined with the 27 crore price tag took a toll on him as the leader of the team failed to deliver the goods. He scored 135 runs in 135 balls as Pant the batter crumbled and this affected his captaincy as LSG failed to qualify for the knockouts.

Criterion
Data
Matches12
Runs135
Strike rate100
Average12.27

(Pant stats in IPL 2025)

In 12 matches he slammed just 135 runs with an average of just 12.27. This affected the captaincy as well as Pant made some horrendous decision which costed them the game. The team cannot have a leader who fails to make smart decisions even under pressure.

2) Pooran's experience as captain

Unlike Pant, Pooran has a wealth of experience as he has led the West Indies team at international level and also has led the team in T20 World Cup. Unlike Pant, he doesn't crumble much and has a character to deliver the goods under pressure. This season, LSG owner retained him for 21 crore and the price tag didn't faze him as he amassed more than 400-runs and was one of the shining lights for the LSG side.