Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni [Source: AFP]Lucknow Super Giants ended their IPL 2026 campaign on a disappointing note after suffering another heavy defeat against Punjab Kings on Saturday. Notably, the loss pushed LSG to the bottom of the points table.The season turned out to be a nightmare for captain Rishabh Pant and his team. LSG managed to win only four matches out of 14 games and finished with just eight points. As a result, questions are now being raised about Pant’s future as captain.Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Under Serious ScrutinySince last season, Rishabh Pant has led Lucknow in 28 matches and the team has lost 18 of them. In addition, the franchise failed to qualify for the Playoffs in both seasons. Along with the team’s struggles, Pant’s batting form has also gone downhill. He scored only 312 runs this season at an average of 28.36, which is far below expectations for a player of his quality.Ambati Rayudu’s Big Advice To Rishabh PantFormer India batter Ambati Rayudu has now advised Rishabh Pant to step away from captaincy and focus fully on his batting. According to Rayudu, Pant’s leadership style looks very similar to MS Dhoni’s instinct-based captaincy. However, that style has not worked well for him so far.He said, "His (Pant's) idol has always been MS Dhoni. We have seen him talk about him, and MS Dhoni's captaincy is very, very similar. He is very instinctive, so he might be following that path, which the coaching staff might not be compatible with.So, there are so many things; unless and until we hear from Pant as to what his captaincy style is, we can only assume what he's going through or what he's thinking. But from the looks of it, he is very, very instinctive and impulsive sometimes. I think the best thing he can do is play as a player," Ambati Rayudu said.MS Dhoni's Captaincy Model Did Not Help Rishabh PantMS Dhoni is known for his calm and instinctive captaincy. Over the years, his decisions have helped CSK win multiple IPL titles. However, trying to copy MS Dhoni’s style has not worked for Pant. Interestingly, even Dhoni’s instinctive leadership did not succeed during his time with Rising Pune Supergiants. In 2017, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka removed Dhoni as captain and appointed Steve Smith as the new skipper. Therefore, many believe Pant should step down as captain and play as a player only.Why Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Is Being CriticisedIt is important to note that Rishabh Pant’s captaincy has faced criticism throughout the season. Many experts pointed out poor field placements, confusing bowling plans in the death overs, and questionable review decisions. Furthermore, the timing of Impact Player substitutions also became a major talking point.The pressure of being the most expensive player in IPL history may have also affected Pant mentally. LSG bought him for Rs 27 crore ahead of the 2025 season, which created massive expectations from fans and management. Unfortunately, Pant failed to deliver consistently with the bat as well as in leadership. Also Read: Rishabh Pant's Replacements: LSG Players In Race To Be Appointed Captain For IPL 2027It is also important to note that after the final match of the season, LSG Director of Cricket Tom Moody admitted that the franchise will seriously review the leadership situation before next year. “When it comes to the leadership of the franchise, that is something we will be giving very serious consideration to in terms of what it looks like in the future,” Tom Moody said.Rajgeeta’s Take On Rishabh Pant’s CaptaincyRishabh Pant is undoubtedly one of India’s most talented cricketers. His aggressive batting have helped him win many matches in the past. However, captaincy appears to be affecting his natural game at the moment.At this stage, stepping away from leadership could actually help Pant rediscover his confidence and batting rhythm. Moreover, focusing only on wicketkeeping and batting may allow him to play with more freedom again.Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Blamed For Yashasvi Jaiswal's IPL 2026 Failure
