Top 3 captaincy options for LSG after Rishabh Pant

The Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) hasn’t even ended, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have already undergone changes for the next season. Captain Rishabh Pant has stepped down from his position after the team failed to reach the playoffs for the second successive time under his leadership.

LSG had their worst-ever campaign in their five-year history of the tournament, ending with a wooden spoon finish for the first time. The Rishabh Pant-led side could only win four out of 14 matches and finished with eight points on the IPL 2026 points table. As Pant steps away from LSG’s captaincy, here are his top three possible replacements:

1. Aiden Markram

Markram serves as South Africa’s current T20I captain, and under his leadership, the team reached the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 and also the semi-final of the recent edition in 2026. Having guided South Africa to the Under-19 World Cup win in 2014, Markram knows what it takes to win championships. He’s a vastly experienced T20 player, and his tactical acumen could well help LSG immensely.

2. Mitchell Marsh

Marsh was LSG’s leading run scorer of the 2026 season, with 563 runs to his name from 13 innings at an average of 43.30 and a strike rate of 163.18. He currently serves as Australia’s T20I captain and is accustomed to the constant scrutiny and pressure of being a leader. Marsh also has massive experience under his belt, and he could bring the much-needed change LSG desperately needs to come out of their rut.

3. Ayush Badoni

The 27-year-old has been a part of the franchise since its inception in 2022. Badoni has made valuable contributions to LSG over the years, and with the age on his side, he can be seen as the future leader of the franchise. The extra responsibility could also bring out the best from Badoni as LSG look to embark on a new chapter.