Rishabh Pant's decision to step down as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain ahead of IPL 2027 has sparked plenty of discussion across the cricketing fraternity.
While several former cricketers have debated whether Pant should continue leading the franchise, legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has come out in support of the wicketkeeper-batter's decision, calling it a responsible move from the leader of the team.
Pant's captaincy tenure at LSG came to an end after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign that saw the franchise finish at the bottom of the points table. Following the announcement, Gavaskar shared his views on the development and highlighted why he believes Pant deserves credit for taking ownership of the team's struggles.
Sunil Gavaskar backs Pant's captaincy exit
Speaking about Pant's decision, Gavaskar said that the wicketkeeper-batter showed accountability by accepting responsibility for the team's poor season rather than looking for excuses.
"It is an admirable decision for the simple reason that the captain has taken responsibility for his team finishing at the bottom of the table," Gavaskar said. "The leader has shown that he wasn't able to take the team higher up the standings. As they say, the buck stops with somebody, and Pant has accepted that responsibility," Gavaskar said.
The former India captain described Rishabh Pant's move as admirable and suggested that it reflected strong leadership qualities. According to Gavaskar, leaders are often judged by results, and Pant's willingness to step aside after a difficult season demonstrated maturity.
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However, Gavaskar also pointed out that responsibility for a disappointing campaign should not fall solely on the captain's shoulders, hinting that there were several individuals involved in the decision-making process throughout the season.
Gavaskar questions role of support staff after LSG's poor season
While praising Pant for accepting responsibility, Gavaskar raised questions regarding the accountability of the franchise's support staff and management.
"The next question is: what about the others around him? What about the support staff? Selections, tactical decisions and strategic calls are not taken by one person alone. The coaching staff and management also influence those decisions," he added.
Gavaskar suggested that if Lucknow Super Giants are serious about moving forward after a disappointing season, they may need to consider a broader restructuring rather than focusing solely on the captaincy issue.
His comments come at a time when major changes are expected within the LSG setup ahead of IPL 2027. Reports have already indicated that the franchise could witness significant alterations in both leadership and support staff as they look to bounce back from a campaign that fell well below expectations.
With Rishabh Pant now relieved of captaincy duties, attention will shift towards how LSG rebuild ahead of next season and whether the franchise opts for a fresh direction in its leadership group.