“Not working”: Former MI head coach urged Rishabh Pant to give up leadership rol for career revival

The Captaincy Conundrum: Can Rishabh Pant Reclaim His Form?

The landscape of the Indian Premier League is unforgiving, and recent performances have placed star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant under intense scrutiny. Following two consecutive seasons of struggle with the Lucknow Super Giants, the narrative surrounding the Indian star has shifted from his potential as a leader to his fundamental survival as an elite batter. The sentiment that it is “Not working”: Former MI head coach urged Rishabh Pant to give up leadership rol has emerged as a major talking point, with experts suggesting that the burden of captaincy is stifling his natural talent.

A Disappointing Campaign for LSG

Rishabh Pant joined the Lucknow Super Giants in 2025 as the most expensive acquisition in the history of the IPL auction, commanding a massive INR 27 crore fee. The expectations were sky-high, with the franchise hoping he would replicate the impact of seasoned leaders like Shreyas Iyer. However, the reality of the 2026 season was starkly different. Having led the side in 28 matches across two seasons, Pant managed only 10 victories, culminating in a bottom-of-the-table finish this year with a meager eight points.

Statistically, Pant’s individual performance saw a minor uptick, with 312 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 138. Yet, for a player of his caliber, these numbers fail to reflect the explosive brilliance he is known for. He has frequently failed to anchor the innings or provide the blistering finishes that defined his early career, leading many to question if his role as captain is directly impacting his concentration at the crease.

The Mark Boucher Perspective

Former South African wicketkeeper and ex-Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher did not mince words during a recent discussion on ESPNcricinfo Timeout. Boucher highlighted a disconnect between Pant’s leadership responsibilities and his primary role as a match-winning batter.

“Rishabh Pant, the cricketer and his leadership are not working together. We have seen that for a couple of seasons now,” Boucher stated. “He hasn’t produced what he is expected to produce. Not everyone is like Rishabh Pant. There are certain players who need to prepare properly… If the captaincy is getting in the way, then get rid of the captaincy.”

Boucher’s assessment is rooted in the belief that Pant’s natural game requires a level of freedom that administrative and tactical duties seem to be suppressing. By stripping away the pressure of making every tactical decision, Boucher argues that Pant might finally be able to return to his roots—hitting the ball all over the ground with the fearlessness that once made him a global sensation.

The Ambati Rayudu Viewpoint

Echoing these sentiments, former Chennai Super Kings batter Ambati Rayudu suggested that the issue might be one of temperament rather than pure skill. Rayudu believes that Pant is an instinctive player by nature, which makes the methodical, high-pressure environment of captaincy particularly challenging for him.

“For someone who always relies on instinct, it is so hard for him to prepare everything and be methodical in terms of his decisions,” Rayudu remarked. “Either you give him captaincy and let him be the way he is, or you don’t give him captaincy. He cannot change his personality overnight. If that is not working, the best thing he can do is be a player and enjoy his cricket and perform for the team.”

Moving Forward: What is Next for Pant?

The consensus among experts is clear: the current arrangement is not yielding the desired results for either the Lucknow Super Giants or Rishabh Pant himself. As the franchise looks to rebuild, the question remains whether they will heed the advice of veterans like Boucher and Rayudu. For Pant, the priority must be a return to his best form. Whether that happens under a new captaincy structure or a change in his personal approach, fans worldwide are eager to see the explosive batter return to his destructive best, unburdened by the complexities of leading a side in the world’s toughest T20 league.