The 2026 IPL isn’t over yet, but the ongoing edition has its first casualty. According to a press release issued by Lucknow Super Giants, Rishabh Pant has relinquished team captaincy. The franchise didn’t think twice when Pant expressed his wish.
“Rishabh approached the franchise with this request and we have respectfully accepted it,” LSG director of cricket Tom Moody was quoted as saying in the press release. “These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective — rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards.”
Who will become the new captain is something for the future, but cut to the present, and on Friday at Narendra Modi Stadium, it was about an old guard still revelling in the passion of a teenager.
It’s sizzling hot here in Ahmedabad. Even at 4.30 pm, the mercury was hovering around 41 degrees Celsius. The real feel was 47. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) started their training session at 5 pm, and Virat Kohli was the first to walk in. For the next half an hour, he took throwdowns, faced the bowlers, played a pull that didn’t clear the deep square leg boundary and essayed a lofted drive that went over the sightscreen and into the stands.
Indian cricket appears to be on the cusp of a generational shift – from superstar Kohli to supernova Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. If Rajasthan Royals win Qualifier 2 and turn up in Ahmedabad for the final, the catchline would be old versus young. Kohli is a legend in his own right, but the next decade could be Sooryavanshi’s.
Coming back to the RCB nets, Venkatesh Iyer followed Kohli, while Phil Salt sat out. The England opener was at the ground, but he didn’t train. Will he be available for the final? Matters little. Kohli and Venkatesh have gelled well to form a formidable opening partnership.
Meanwhile, the excitement is showing signs of reaching fever pitch for Sunday’s final. “We are expecting a turnout of 110,000,” said a senior Gujarat Cricket Association official. “Tickets are priced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 25,000. There’s an ICC meeting here on May 30 and 31, and some of the delegates will be coming to watch the final.”
One is tempted to believe that the excitement is related to Sooryavanshi – the anticipation of watching him in the final. The GCA official begged to differ. “No, not that,” he observed. “Virat is there. If Gujarat Titans win (the Qualifier 2), they would be the home team and Shubman is the ‘home’ boy. Indian cricket has so many top players.”
The captains’ photoshoot will take place on the riverfront on the match eve. With mercury rising, Sooryavanshi playing the final would be a fitting denouement of an IPL that sang the merry song of youth. Then again, the Titans are no pushovers.
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