Rishabh Pant was left searching for answers after Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered yet another setback, going down to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a Super Over. Chasing 156, LSG failed to close out
the contest despite being in the hunt, extending their losing streak this season to five matches.
The slide has been particularly worrying at home, where LSG have now endured eight straight defeats under Pant’s leadership. Since he took over as captain last year following his record signing, results have not gone in the franchise’s favour, with the team struggling for consistency. Former India batter Wasim Jaffer believes a leadership change could help arrest the decline and has suggested handing the captaincy to Aiden Markram.
“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,” Jaffer was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel.
Captaincy Vs Batter Debate
Pant’s struggles with the bat have mirrored the team’s dip in fortunes. Across the last two seasons, he has managed 458 runs in 21 innings, with only three scores above fifty. Although he made 42 in the latest chase, he was unable to guide his side home as the game slipped into a Super Over.
Jaffer feels Pant’s natural game may be affected by the added responsibility of captaincy. “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,” Jaffer added.
With 14 defeats in 22 matches under Pant since last season, LSG face an urgent need to have a relook before their campaign slips further away.
