New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are reportedly eyeing Rishabh Pant as a potential candidate to replace KL Rahul as captain ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 mega auction. LSG are set to release Rahul and will be looking to get an ideal replacement for him as captain in the auction. The franchise is waiting for Delhi Capitals (DC)’s final decision on Pant.
Pant has been part of the Delhi Capitals ever since making his IPL debut in 2016 and has been leading the team since IPL 2022. However, his future as DC skipper is in doubt after recent reports claimed that the Capitals’ management is looking at other options. DC cow owner Parth Jindal had earlier said Pant was a sure-shot retention for the franchise.
But there seems to be a fresh twist in the tale now. As per a report in the Times of India, Delhi Capitals are taking time to confirm their retentions after a major overhaul in the backroom staff. The franchise recently roped in Hemang Badani as their new head coach and Venugopal Rao as the Director of Cricket of the men’s franchise.
With DC yet to take a final call on Pant’s future, LSG are waiting in the wings to see if the wicket-keeper batter will be released. As per TOI, Lucknow Super Giants view Pant as a potential captaincy candidate and are keen on having the India wicket-keeper batter. Punjab Kings and some other teams are also interested in Pant if he gets released by Delhi Capitals.
KL Rahul’s future decided by LSG
Meanwhile, LSG have also decided to release Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction following an analysis of the star batter’s performance by head coach Justin Langer and their newly-appointed mentor Zaheer Khan. The analysis done by Langer and Zaheer deemed that Rahul’s poor strike rate contributed to LSG’s losses in IPL 2024 and that they cannot carry him in the top order.
While they won’t retain him, LSG have not ruled out bidding for Rahul at the mega auction if the batter is available for the right price. Rahul joined LSG as one of their marquee players ahead of their debut season in IPL 2022 and has since led the franchise in all three seasons that they have been part of the league.
Under Rahul’s captaincy, LSG qualified for the playoffs for two consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023 before missing out on a spot in the top 4 last season. Rahul’s future with the franchise came under the scrutiny ever since LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had a public outburst on the star batter after the team’s defeat in their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad during IPL 2024 earlier this year.
