Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered yet another loss in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Rishabh Pant’s side are now 10th in the standings. The latest setback came at home against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who prevailed in the super-over thanks to heroics from Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine.

Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has asked the 28-year-old to give up captaincy and focus more on his batting.

The 48-year-old felt that the pressure of leading the side is starting to show on Pant, and the burden of leading the side has started to affect his batting.

“I feel a player like Rishabh Pant should play purely as a batter. You get the best out of him when you free him up and tell him just to go out and play and win the matches on his own. Don’t burden him with captaincy, Aiden Markram is a better captain”.

Ex-Indian batter gives his take on Markram’s captaincy

“He has led South Africa very successfully; he is mentally strong and very composed, and I think he can get the best out of other players.

This doesn’t look like something that may actually happen. This is just my suggestion, but if was there, that’s what I would do,” he added.

Pant, who is the costliest player in the league, has been struggling since taking over the captaincy. Speaking about the side’s struggle, Jaffer mentioned, “LSG looks completely out of place right now. It’s hard even to know what to expect from them.”

South African pace legend questions Pooran’s introduction in the super over

Another legend who has slammed Lucknow’s think-tank is former South African pacer Dale Steyn. He wasn’t pleased to see struggling Nicholas Pooran being sent out to bat in the game-deciding super-over.

“Three super overs for Nicholas Pooran in the IPL, three ducks. Would you send someone else? Of course. You’ve got players like Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, and Mukul Choudhary.

Given Pooran’s recent form, there were other options.”