Aiden Markram to replace Rishabh Pant as LSG captain!! Sanjiv Goenka told to take bold decision

Former India batter Wasim Jaffer advised the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) management to replace Rishabh Pant with Aiden Markram as captain in IPL 2026. Jaffer said that removing the leadership burden could free Pant, allowing the wicketkeeper-batter to play more freely and win matches single-handedly.

Lucknow Super Giants will host Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday, April 26. The Super Giants are currently in ninth position in the 10-team points table. The Rishabh Pant-led team has secured two victories and suffered five defeats in their first seven matches in the group stage.

I Would Make Aiden Markram the Captain - Wasim Jaffer Suggests Replacing Rishabh Pant

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer suggested bold changes for Lucknow Super Giants. He expressed concern over Rishabh Pant and added that appointing Aiden Markram as captain should be the top priority.

“LSG looks completely out of place right now, it’s hard to even know what to expect from them. If I were in that dugout, the first thing I would do is make Aiden Markram the captain. I would open with Markram and Mitchell Marsh."

"At number three, Nicholas Pooran, then Rishabh Pant at four, and Ayush Badoni at five. At number six, Abdul Samad, and at seven, Mukul Choudhary. That would be my top seven, and I would go with this batting order.”

Rishabh Pant is having a disappointing IPL season so far. In seven innings, he has scored just 147 runs at an average of 24.50, with only one half-century. His strike rate of 132.43 has also been below expectations.

In their recent 40-run defeat to the Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Pant was dismissed for a three-ball duck. Chasing 160, Lucknow Super Giants collapsed and were bowled out for 119 in 18 overs.

Wasim Jaffer also stated that Aiden Markram has better leadership qualities than Rishabh Pant. He pointed out Markram’s experience leading South Africa and praised his calm approach and mental strength to get the best out of the Lucknow Super Giants squad.

“I feel a player like Rishabh Pant should play purely as a player. You get the best out of him when you free him up and tell him to just go out and play and win matches on his own. Don’t burden him with captaincy. I think Aiden Markram is a better captain. He has led South Africa very successfully, he is mentally strong, very composed, and I think he can get the best out of the other players. But this doesn’t look like something that will actually happen. This is just my suggestion, but if I were there, that’s what I would do."

I Think Ajinkya Rahane Should Continue as Captain - Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer backed Ajinkya Rahane to continue as captain for Kolkata Knight Riders despite his recent dip in batting form. Jaffer also suggested that Kolkata Knight Riders should make better use of Sunil Narine’s batting. He stated that batting him at number eight limits his impact.

“I think Ajinkya should continue as captain. I don’t see any issue with his captaincy. He started the tournament well and batted nicely, but in the last four or five matches he hasn’t scored runs and is clearly feeling the pressure, there’s no doubt about that,” Jaffer said.

“But I think somehow you have to get the best out of Narine as a batter. You will have to send him up the order, because at number eight you can’t expect much from him, that’s not his game. Whether you want to play Seifert or Finn Allen, that’s your choice. Both are good players and aggressive batters. Ajinkya should bat at number three. I would go with KKR, because with LSG it’s hard to understand which team will turn up and what will happen on a given day.”

Also read: Watch: Abhishek Sharma harassed by female fan in SRH team hotel amid IPL 2026