After Rishabh Pant Exit, Aiden Markram Sends Clear Message On LSG Captaincy For IPL 2027

Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram having a chat during IPL 2026 (Source: AFP Photos)

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) swapped Rishabh Pant for Kuldeep Yadav with a groundbreaking trade deal in June. In the process, LSG captaincy role for IPL 2027 became vacant for all, with South Africa captain Aiden Markram, being one of the most successful leaders in franchise T20 leagues, emerging as one of the top contenders to take up the responsibility.

Markram is part of Manchester Super Giants, LSG’s sister franchise in The Hundred Men 2026. He is even captaining there in England.

There, even though Markram had a flying start in The Hundred Men 2026 as a captain, winning both the opening two fixtures, he suffered three defeats on the trot to demote on points table. After that, he spoke up openly about LSG captaincy opportunity for IPL 2027.

Aiden Markram Denies Any Talks With Sanjeev Goenka Over LSG Captaincy

Speaking to Cricinfo, Markram openly spoke about the opportunity regarding LSG captaincy for IPL 2027. There, he clearly mentioned that there was no communication happened between him and LSG’s principal owner Sanjiv Goenka to replace Rishabh Pant at the helm.

"I've got no idea (related to LSG captaincy for IPL 2027)," Markram told Cricinfo.

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"They can decide whatever they think is best. There's some quality leaders in that group that we have there, so I'm not too fussed about it. Whoever gets it I'm sure will take it on and do a good job, but the thoughts haven't been there just yet," he added.

Top Contenders For LSG Captaincy In IPL 2027

If Markram does not take LSG captaincy role, and Sanjeev Goenka-led think tank does not go for someone new to replace Rishabh Pant for IPL 2027, they already have quite a few candidates at the squad to take over the responsibility.

Along with Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran are the prime contenders to succeed Rishabh Pant at LSG. While Marsh is Australia’s T20I captain, Pooran has been in leadership roles for a while, including taking charge of MI New York in MLC 2026.

Apart from that, Pooran also captained West Indies in the past.

Aiden Markram Record As Captain

Markram has captained South Africa for most number of times in T20Is. He led the country for 46 times in the shortest format of the game, winning 23 and losing 22. Faf du Plessis, who had led South Africa in 37 T20Is, is second on the chart.

During IPL 2023, Markram was appointed as SRH captain for a full season. There, he had a miserable campaign, winning only four out of 14 league matches. As a result, SRH finished at the bottom of the points table.

Not to forget, Markram won the U19 World Cup 2014 as captain for South Africa. Besides, SRH’s SA20 franchise Sunrisers Cape Town won back to back titles under his leadership, in 2022/23 and 2023/24.

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