- By Namrata Vijay
- Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IPL 2026: Ex-India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar stressed that it will be interesting to watch whether the Lucknow-based franchise will heed ex-skipper Rishabh Pant's push to trim their support staff, as Pant labeled them as too many voices and warned that the grand claims made by a few coaches will rebound. Before the IPL 2026 summit clash between the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Pant stepped down as captain of the Lucknow-based franchise after a lackluster run, slumping to last in the points table with just 4 wins in 14 matches.
An official statement from the franchise disclosed that Pant had requested to relinquish the role, and the team's management granted the request.
“Rishabh Pant stepping down as the captain of his team, which finished at the bottom of the table, kicks off the first captaincy change for the next season, as many more may follow before the new season launches next year," Gavaskar told Sportstar.
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He lamented, “He did say more than once that there were too many voices crowding his thoughts and too many conflicting messages—an unbearable situation for any captain. That’s hardly flattering for the support staff.”
Pant joined the Lucknow-based franchise before IPL 2025 for a whopping Rs 27 crore. Over the past two years, they faltered, sliding into the lower half of the points table.
He himself failed to deliver with the bat during this period.
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Gavaskar added with unmistakable gravity, "Whether this sparks a sweeping overhaul at the franchise will be dramatic to witness. Words are cheap, and headlines fade fast—cricket can cruelly humble those making empty boasts, delivering stinging lessons when least expected."
“Andy Flower, the coach of RCB, which has now won two back-to-back titles, is a fine example of someone who works quietly, with no big statements that make headlines," he further said.
The ex-Indian cricketer also slammed a few coaches, but didn't name anyone, saying some had brought in their friends as support staff for the teams.
He concluded with biting clarity, “And no golfing or beer-drinking pals slip into Andy Flower’s support staff. Maybe there’s a hard lesson here—if only decision-makers would recognize it, perhaps their teams wouldn’t succumb to disappointment so early, with anguish setting in before the season even finds its stride.”