Manoj Tiwary Criticizes Rishabh Pant’s Captaincy Amid LSG’s IPL 2026 Struggles

The Struggle at the Bottom: LSG’s Dismal IPL 2026 Campaign

The 2026 Indian Premier League season has been nothing short of a nightmare for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Currently languishing at the bottom of the table, the franchise has managed a mere two victories from nine encounters. At the center of this downward spiral is skipper Rishabh Pant, whose captaincy has faced growing scrutiny following a difficult transition period that began in the 2025 season.

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka entered the season with high aspirations, hoping that appointing Pant would elevate the team to the elite status enjoyed by franchises led by legends such as MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Unfortunately, that vision has hit a significant roadblock, with critics now questioning whether Pant has the tactical acumen required to lead a side to glory.

The Numbers Do Not Lie: Analyzing Pant’s Leadership

The statistical decline under Rishabh Pant is stark. Since taking the reins in 2025, Pant has led LSG in 23 matches, managing only eight wins. This results in a win-to-loss ratio of 0.571, a figure that puts him in the conversation for the least successful captains in the franchise’s history. For context, former stand-in skipper Krunal Pandya boasted a superior record, winning three of six games with a ratio of 1.50.

The woes extend to home soil as well. In 13 matches at their home ground, Pant has secured victory only three times. A notable low point occurred on April 22 against the Rajasthan Royals, where the batting lineup crumbled to a paltry 119 all out. The team’s recent sixth consecutive defeat against the Mumbai Indians served as the catalyst for a brutal critique from former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary.

Tactical Lapses: Where Pant Falls Short

Manoj Tiwary, appearing on Cricbuzz, provided a detailed breakdown of why he believes Pant is failing to emulate the tactical mastery of MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma. Tiwary pointed to the match against the Mumbai Indians to illustrate his point. While he praised Prince Yadav for maintaining a tight economy rate of 8 through precise yorker execution, he noted a failure in leadership strategy.

“Pant is also losing out on tactical moves. In the match against Mumbai, Prince Yadav was the only economical bowler, and that was because he was executing yorkers. As a captain, you should have told the other bowlers to follow that plan,” Tiwary remarked. Furthermore, Tiwary suggested that Pant missed a trick by not utilizing Arjun Tendulkar. According to the analyst, social media footage showed Tendulkar bowling accurate yorkers in the nets, yet the bowler—traded from Mumbai for INR 30 lakh—remained on the bench.

The Road Ahead: Is the Season Over?

The mood in the LSG camp is understandably grim. With only two wins in nine games and a massive gap between them and the playoff contenders, the likelihood of a miraculous turnaround appears slim. With teams like the Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans already firming up their positions at the top of the table, the path to the top four is blocked by competitive sides like the Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

For Rishabh Pant, the remaining matches represent a fight for reputation rather than a realistic bid for the trophy. Whether he can rectify these tactical errors and finish the season on a high note remains the biggest question for the Lucknow Super Giants faithful. As the pressure mounts, the comparison to the league’s most successful captains serves as a constant reminder of the high standards expected of him in the world’s most competitive T20 league.