Tom Moody warns Lucknow Super Giants

Tom Moody said Lucknow Super Giants would consider “a reset” after their IPL 2026 campaign ended with a seven-wicket loss to Punjab Kings in Lucknow. The LSG director of cricket said the franchise would review “every department” after finishing in the bottom two, one year after placing seventh in 2025. His comments, published by ESPNcricinfo after the match, put captain Rishabh Pant’s batting and leadership directly into the post-season review. Punjab’s win, powered by Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 101, also kept that team in the playoff race. ### What did Tom Moody actually say after the Punjab Kings loss? Tom Moody said after the May 23 match that Lucknow were “needing to consider a reset” and would review “every department” because the side had “not lived up to the expectation.” ESPNcricinfo reported the comments after Punjab chased 197 with 12 balls remaining. The loss left Lucknow with a bottom-two finish in IPL 2026, according to ESPNcricinfo’s report on Moody’s remarks. Moody’s assessment was broader than one result; he said the franchise would examine the season across the squad and leadership group. (espncricinfo.com) ### Why is Rishabh Pant at the center of the review? Rishabh Pant was named by Moody as part of the review because he leads the side and because his own season did not meet expectations, ESPNcricinfo reported. Moody said Pant and the team “haven’t lived up to the expectation,” linking the captain’s form and leadership to the wider underperformance. (espncricinfo.com) ESPNcricinfo’s coverage framed the issue as a possible captaincy reset rather than a narrow technical correction. The report said Lucknow would consider a leadership change after a season that followed a No. 7 finish in 2025 with an even lower placing in 2026. (espncricinfo.com) ### What happened in the match that prompted those comments? Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets on May 23 in the 68th match of the league stage at Lucknow. ESPNcricinfo’s match report said Lucknow made 196 for 6, with Josh Inglis scoring 72 and Ayush Badoni 43, before Punjab replied with 200 for 3 in 18 overs. (espncricinfo.com) Shreyas Iyer made 101 not out from 51 balls and Prabhsimran Singh added 69 as Punjab completed the chase. ESPNcricinfo said the result ended Punjab’s six-match losing streak and lifted them back into the top four. ### How bad was Lucknow’s season in the standings? (espncricinfo.com) Lucknow Super Giants finished outside the playoff places and in the bottom two of the table, according to ESPNcricinfo’s report on Moody’s comments. ESPNcricinfo’s IPL page listed the playoffs beginning on May 26, with Lucknow no longer involved. (espncricinfo.com) The IPL 2026 schedule showed the league stage concluding on May 24, followed by Qualifier 1 on May 26 in Dharamsala, the Eliminator on May 27 in New Chandigarh, Qualifier 2 on May 29 and the final on May 31 in Ahmedabad. ### What comes next for Lucknow Super Giants? Lucknow’s next step is an internal review rather than another match. (espncricinfo.com) Moody said that review would cover “every department,” with Pant’s role and the team’s leadership structure part of the discussion, according to ESPNcricinfo. (espncricinfo.com) The IPL calendar now moves to the playoffs on May 26, while Lucknow turns to off-season decisions after back-to-back years outside the top tier of the table. The named fixtures next are Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 26 and Sunrisers Hyderabad against a to-be-decided opponent in the Eliminator on May 27, ESPNcricinfo’s schedule showed. (espncricinfo.com 1) (espncricinfo.com 2)