Although the IPL 2026 season has not yet concluded, franchisees that have performed poorly are already making changes. On Friday, Rishabh Pant resigned as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who finished at the bottom of the standings. Simultaneously, Hardik Pandya's challenging stint as Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper is expected to conclude after the five-time champions ended second-last. According to reliable sources, the all-rounder wants to leave MI and could be traded to another franchise when the trading window opens. Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders are potential destinations, though other franchises may also show interest.
Pant's Departure from LSG Captaincy
LSG had appointed Pant as captain after bidding Rs 27 crore for him, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. However, after two below-par seasons, Pant decided to step down. LSG director Tom Moody announced on social media that Pant had requested to be relieved of captaincy duties. "Rishabh approached the franchise with this request, and we have respectfully accepted it," Moody stated. "These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on collective rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards."
Pant's Focus on International Cricket
Sources indicate that Pant wants to concentrate on his cricket with a crucial international season ahead. He was recently removed as Test vice-captain and dropped from the ODI side after spending two years on the bench with Team India. "Pant wants to have a clear head going forward. He has staged many strong comebacks in his career. At the moment, his focus is to be the best cricketer he can be and help his team win. A good international season can boost his confidence for the next IPL. He bounced back from a poor IPL last year and had a stellar Test series in England. The LSG management believes if he can regain that momentum, it may help him going forward," sources close to the development revealed. "It's better for both the franchise and Pant to take some time out and calm down before planning for the next season," they added.
Hardik Pandya's Expected Exit from MI
A formal announcement of Hardik's exit as MI captain may also be imminent. "Yes, Hardik is done with MI and is exiting the franchise. He has had enough. He could either go to Delhi Capitals, who could trade their captain and India left-arm spinner Axar Patel for him, or he could be traded to KKR against Cameron Green, Varun Chakravarthy, or Rinku Singh. However, don't rule out some other franchise being interested," a source told TOI.
Potential MI Captaincy Candidates
Another source revealed that during a mid-season review, a senior player suggested that India's young batter Tilak Varma, who has been with MI for a few years, is the ideal candidate to be appointed captain next year. However, India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who made his IPL captaincy debut for MI this season in one game, are also contenders. The management is also likely to phase out a senior batter and assign a different role. "Basically, MI need a reset, and that refresh button needs to be pressed as soon as possible," the source said. While both Surya and Bumrah could be strong candidates, Surya's prolonged lean patch and the need to manage Bumrah's workload must be considered before a final decision.
Other Captains May Face Changes
There is speculation that Pandya and Pant may not be the only IPL captains to lose their roles. Other captains may also face tough questions from disappointed managements as franchises look to rebuild.
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