'Rishab Pant's leadership quality raises concerns': 'Every department needs reset': LSG director Tom Moody

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Super Giants appear to be heading for a leadership overhaul after enduring successive dismal IPL campaigns, with Director of Cricket Tom Moody indicating significant changes, while also admitting that skipper Rishabh Pant has struggled to handle the pressures of captaincy.


Moody said the leadership group will “seriously” review the future and that the team may need a “reset”, with LSG finishing at the bottom of the points table with four wins and 10 losses. Their campaign ended with a defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final league match on Saturday.






On Pant’s captaincy, Moody said, “From a captaincy point of view, he’s found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that. And you have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected with his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it.


“It will take time. We’ll consider all things, but certainly we haven’t lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves.” Moody said, suggesting that the franchise would consider changes across the setup.




“When it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it’s certainly something that we’ll be taking some very serious consideration to what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on the off season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that, you know, we’re needing to consider a reset,” he said.




The franchise’s leadership group this season included Moody, strategic advisor Kane Williamson and head coach Justin Langer, but results did not improve. After finishing seventh in IPL 2025, LSG are set to end IPL 2026 in either ninth or 10th place, depending on Mumbai Indians’ final result.




Under captain Rishabh Pant, LSG have managed 10 wins in 28 matches across the last two seasons. Pant, signed for a record Rs 27 crore, also struggled with the bat this season, scoring 312 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 138.05. “To be honest with you, you only have to look at the two years. We came seventh last year. Obviously this is my first year with the franchise. This year we have come last,” Moody said.




Asked about responsibility for the poor season, Moody said accountability was shared across the group. “I think we’re all responsible. I don’t think it’s a time to point the finger at any individual. I think we all take accountability and as I said, now’s not the time to be portioning blame in any particular department,” he said.


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