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Rishabh Pant LSG replacement: three leaders ready to take the armband

Rishabh Pant has stepped down as captain of Lucknow Super Giants with immediate effect, following the franchise’s disastrous IPL 2026 season, in which they finished at the foot of the points table with just four wins from fourteen matches. The Rishabh Pant LSG replacement conversation has consequently taken centre stage across Indian cricket.

Pant was signed for a massive Rs 27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction and was expected to lead the franchise into a new era, yet LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons under his leadership. Now the Super Giants face a pivotal decision, and fortunately, they do not need to look far.

Rishabh Pant LSG replacement option one: Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh has been LSG’s most prolific batter across the past two seasons, recording over 500 runs in both 2025 and 2026, with 627 runs in 2025 and 563 runs in 2026, both at strike rates of 163, along with nine half-centuries and two centuries across that span.

Beyond the batting numbers, his leadership credentials are equally convincing. Marsh serves as the skipper of Australia’s T20 international side and was appointed vice-captain of the ODI team for the 2023 World Cup. LSG already tried this argument before appointing Pant, so perhaps revisiting it now carries considerably more logic.

Rishabh Pant LSG replacement option two: Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran has been a mainstay for LSG since 2023 and delivered a prolific IPL 2025 campaign, scoring 524 runs at a strike rate of 196.25. He was the team’s big-money retention ahead of the 2025 season at Rs 21 crore, which reflects the considerable faith placed in him by the management. His captaincy record with West Indies gives him experience that few others in the squad can match, and the franchise clearly values his presence as a senior voice.

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Option three: Ayush Badoni

Ayush Badoni has been with the Super Giants since his IPL debut in 2022, accumulating 1,178 runs across 66 matches at a strike rate of 140.90. He also captained the India A squad during the T20 World Cup warm-up matches in February 2026. His domestic leadership record and growing stature within the group make him the most compelling Indian candidate in the Rishabh Pant LSG replacement discussion heading into IPL 2027.