3 players who can replace Rishabh Pant as LSG captain in IPL 2027

Rishabh Pant stepped down as Lucknow Super Giants skipper after a tumultuous season in IPL 2026, which saw them finish last on the points table. After being signed for a substantial INR 27.00 crore fee in the 2025 Mega Auction, LSG have seen 7th-place and 10th-place finishes under the wicketkeeper-batter.

His future at the franchise has become a significant talking point, but keeping that aside, his decision to step down has opened up a vacancy in the team. They have a squad filled with experienced options, which would allow them to look inwards rather than towards the auction table for the 2027 season.

Here are 3 potential replacements for Rishabh Pant as LSG captain ahead of IPL 2027

3. Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh has been the Super Ginats’ most prolific batter in the past two seasons, recording over 500 runs in both 2025 and 2026. The Australian all-rounder has been playing as a pure batter but has been one of their most important players. He scored 627 runs in 2025 and 563 runs in 2026, both at strike rates of 163, with nine half-centuries and two centuries in that span.

Speaking of leadership experience, Marsh has been the designated deputy for Pat Cummins in ODIs and is the skipper of Australia’s T20 team. He was appointed vice-captain of the ODI team for the 2023 World Cup and has filled in for Cummins in his absence.

2. Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran has been a mainstay for LSG since he was picked up in 2023. Despite a poor season where he scored just 234 runs in 2026, he has been reliable with the bat and had a prolific IPL in 2025, scoring 524 runs at a whopping strike rate of 196.25. He was the team’s big-money retention ahead of the 2025 season, signed at a whopping INR 21 crore, which shows the faith they have put in him.

His captaincy record is vast, despite an underwhelming record with the West Indies. Pooran leads MI New York in the Major League Cricket, guiding the team to titles in 2023 and 2025. He has also captained the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, leading them to the title in 2025.

1. Aiden Markram

Any talk of captaincy in a Super Giants team must involve Aiden Markram. The South African batter already captains two Super Giants teams – Durban Super Giants in SA20 and Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred. He is also the captain of South Africa’s T20 side and has captained the team in ODIs. He led South Africa to a successful title in the 2014 U-19 World Cup and has led Sunrisers Eastern Cape to two consecutive SA20 titles.

Markram has yet to make a significant impact in the IPL due to a lack of role clarity. Despite this, he had his most prolific season in 2025, scoring 445 runs at a strike rate of 148.83. He was demoted to number 5 in the 2026 season, scoring just 231 runs at 138.32.