Rishabh Pant joins Sanjiv Goenka in Kolkata as LSG begin crucial IPL 2026 retention discussions

Rishabh Pant was also there as the Lucknow Super Giants worked to finalize their retention strategy. Pant, who is in the squad for the upcoming IND-SA Tests, met team owner Sanjiv Goenka and his support staff on Thursday. The team underwent a significant coaching overhaul during the off-season with Tom Moody taking on the role of director of cricket.

Last season, Lucknow Super Giants finished 7th and this result was partly attributed to Pant’s difficulties with form. He was bought with a record bid of Rs 27 crore and appointed captain. While the left-handed batsman is expected to retain his captaincy, Zaheer Khan has been removed from his position as team mentor.

Hold mode Stay tuned pic.twitter.com/8awcOo3gKC

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) November 13, 2025

Kane Williamson has been appointed as strategic advisor, having previously collaborated with Tom Moody at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Bharat Arun joins the team after his time at KKR and Langer continues in his current role. It is also expected that Abhay Sharma will be appointed as fielding coach.

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Lucknow Super Giants have put up some impressive performances but have struggled to maintain consistency as a team. The top three batsmen (Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran) are considered among the toughest players in the league. If Pant can regain his form, it will undoubtedly strengthen the batting line-up.

While David Miller’s ongoing struggles may result in his release, Mayank Yadav, who was brought back for Rs 11 crore, may also be at risk. Ravi Bishnoi faced difficulties with his form and both Akash Deep and Avesh Khan were bought for significant amounts.

On the other hand, LSG all-rounder Shardul Thakur was traded to MI for his current fee of INR 2 billion. Thakur joined LSG as an injury replacement during IPL 2025 and participated in 10 matches. Known for his versatility and key performances, he has been a valuable asset to every franchise he has represented.

With this trade, this will be Shardul Thakur’s seventh appearance in the IPL after previously playing for Punjab Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants.

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