The leadership picture at Lucknow Super Giants appears to be changing rapidly ahead of IPL 2027. With Rishabh Pant reportedly on his way out of the franchise, LSG have started looking at a new captain to lead the side into a fresh cycle.
While an official announcement is yet to be made, reports suggest that Australia T20I captain Mitchell Marsh has emerged as the leading contender for the role. If the move materialises, it would mark a significant shift in strategy for a franchise that has previously been led by Indian wicketkeeper-batters such as KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
Mitchell Marsh is set to become LSG captain, replacing Rishabh Pant
Mitchell Marsh has reportedly moved to the front of the queue to become Lucknow Super Giants’ next captain. According to CricBlogger, the franchise is still waiting for certain trade-related formalities to be completed before taking a final call, but Mitchell Marsh is currently viewed as the strongest candidate.
The Australian all-rounder already enjoys considerable support within the setup. LSG have former Australia coaches Justin Langer and Tom Moody in key positions, and both are understood to be backing Mitchell Marsh for the leadership role.
The possibility of Mitchell Marsh becoming captain also fits a trend that has followed the ownership group over the years. During the two seasons when the owners operated the Pune franchise, they famously backed Steve Smith as captain ahead of MS Dhoni.
If Mitchell Marsh gets the job, he would join Pat Cummins as one of the few overseas captains in the IPL. It would also represent a departure from LSG’s previous captaincy model.
The move could also signal the start of a wider reset within the franchise after three underwhelming seasons that saw LSG finish seventh in 2024 and 2025 before ending IPL 2026 at the bottom of the points table.
Rishabh Pant likely to return to Delhi Capitals
Pant’s exit from Lucknow appears increasingly likely after ESPNcricinfo reported that Delhi Capitals and LSG are finalising a trade involving Pant and Kuldeep Yadav.
Once approved by the BCCI, Rishabh Pant will return to the franchise where his IPL journey began in 2016. The proposed deal would see Delhi Capitals acquire Pant for INR 15 crore, while Kuldeep Yadav heads in the opposite direction.
The report stated that Pant informed LSG before the IPL 2026 final that he intended to step down as captain. The development came shortly after team director Tom Moody spoke about the need to “reset” the franchise’s leadership structure.
Pant’s two-year stint in Lucknow never really took off. The wicketkeeper-batter struggled both as captain and batter, and LSG failed to establish themselves as genuine title contenders during his tenure.
A return to Delhi could offer Pant a familiar environment and a fresh start. His previous spell with the franchise was significantly more successful, both individually and as a leader. For LSG, meanwhile, acquiring Kuldeep would strengthen a bowling attack that lacked consistency throughout IPL 2026.
Rishabh Pant’s IPL numbers with LSG
Pant arrived in Lucknow carrying enormous expectations after becoming the most expensive player in IPL history at the 2025 mega auction. The results, however, fell well short of what both the franchise and player would have hoped for.
Across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Pant scored 581 runs in 28 matches for LSG. He managed only two half-centuries during that period and averaged 26.40 with a strike rate of 135.74.
His first season with the franchise was particularly disappointing. Pant scored 269 runs in IPL 2025 at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16. While there was a slight improvement in IPL 2026, where he scored 312 runs at an average of 28.36 and a strike rate of 138.05, those numbers remained well below the standards he had set during his best years with Delhi Capitals.
The contrast becomes even sharper when compared to Pant’s overall IPL record. Across his career, he has scored 3,865 runs at an average of 33.60 and a strike rate of 146.79. His explosive 2018 season, when he smashed 684 runs at a strike rate above 173, remains one of the finest campaigns produced by an Indian batter in IPL history.
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Author: Sonanchal Gautam
