3 Players Who Can Replace Rishabh Pant As LSG Captain In IPL 2027: Rishabh Pant has stepped down as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). This major decision comes on the heels of an extremely difficult and disappointing 2026 IPL season, in which the team finished at the very bottom of the points table (in 10th place).
It is worth recalling that during the 2025 Mega Auction, Lucknow acquired Pant for a staggering, record-breaking sum of ₹27.00 crore. However, under his captaincy, the team’s performance went off the rails, resulting in finishes at the 7th and 10th spots in consecutive seasons. While Pant’s future as a player within the Lucknow franchise remains uncertain, his decision to relinquish the captaincy has created a vacancy for a new leader within the squad.
The good news for LSG is that they do not need to look outside the organization for a new captain. The team already possesses experienced players within its core group who are capable of taking on the mantle of leadership for the 2027 IPL season. Let’s take a look at three such potential candidates:
3. Mitchell Marsh – Australia’s Dynamic All-rounder
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Over the past two seasons, Mitchell Marsh has proven himself to be the Super Giants’ most reliable and successful batsman. He has emphatically demonstrated his prowess by smashing over 500 runs in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons:
- 2025 Performance: 627 runs
- 2026 Performance: 563 runs
- Strike Rate: A blistering strike rate of 163 in both seasons
- Record: 9 half-centuries and 2 magnificent centuries
Captaincy Experience:
Marsh possesses excellent captaincy experience at the international level. He currently serves as the regular captain of Australia’s T20 International squad.
Furthermore, in Pat Cummins’ absence, he also fulfills the role of vice-captain for the ODI team—a responsibility he handled with great aplomb during the 2023 ODI World Cup. His aggressive approach could provide a new direction for LSG.
2. Nicholas Pooran – A Formidable Match-Winner in T20 Cricket
Nicholas Pooran has been one of the key pillars of the Lucknow franchise since 2023. This is precisely why, ahead of the 2025 Mega Auction, the team retained him for a hefty sum of **₹21 crore**.
Although the 2026 season may have been somewhat average for Pooran, he wreaked havoc with his bat in 2025. He smashed 524 runs at an incredible strike rate of 196.25.
Captaincy Experience:
Pooran boasts an impressive track record of captaining teams and winning titles across various leagues around the world:
- Major League Cricket (MLC): While captaining MI New York, he led the team to championship victories in both 2023 and 2025.
- Caribbean Premier League (CPL): He guided the Trinbago Knight Riders to the 2025 title under his leadership.
- International: He also possesses experience leading the West Indies national team. Pooran’s composed demeanor and astute understanding of the game make him a natural contender for the captaincy role.
1. Aiden Markram – An Expert Title-Winning Leader
The frontrunner and strongest contender in this race is South Africa’s Aiden Markram. Within the cricketing fraternity, Markram is widely regarded as an exceptionally astute and level-headed captain. His relationship with the Super Giants franchise is both long-standing and deep.
He captains the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 league and the Manchester Super Giants in ‘The Hundred’. Although there may have been some uncertainty regarding his role in the IPL, his record remains impressive:
- 2025 Season: 445 runs at a strike rate of 148.83 (his best IPL season).
- 2026 Season: Despite being sent lower down the batting order (at number 5), he scored 231 runs at a strike rate of 138.32.
Captaincy Experience:
Markram knows how to win trophies. He is the current captain of South Africa’s T20 team. Furthermore, he has the following major achievements to his name:
- Led South Africa to victory in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup.
- Guided the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles.
Given his excellent rapport with the Super Giants Group and his stellar captaincy record, Markram could prove to be the most fitting choice to captain LSG in the 2027 IPL season.
Also Read: IPL Prize Money 2025 vs 2026: Winner, Runner-Up, Orange & Purple Cap
