Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to lead Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2027 after Rishabh Pant decided to resign from his leadership role. LSG finished as cellar-dwellers in IPL 2026 after they managed only four wins in 14 games and thus, the pressure was building on Pant.

Furthermore, the franchise had ended the previous season in seventh place after six wins and eight losses. Pant was bought for a huge amount of INR 27 crore, but he hasn’t been able to lead from the front.

On the other hand, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram have the leadership experience of captaining their national teams.

Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “I think it’s a good decision, whether it’s the franchise telling him or his own decision. A decision in the right direction. You are doing wicketkeeping and are reactive and impulsive. A captain should control his emotions. It’s not his mistake but his nature. He shouldn’t be the captain. He needs to accept that he can’t do things like planning or handling players.

“He struggles as a leader. There’s nothing wrong, just play as a player. Good decision and in the right direction. Whether Mitchell Marsh or Aiden Markram leads the side, they have done it for their national sides. Aiden Markram especially has a sound temperament and does good captaincy. They can choose someone else as well.”

Meanwhile, Jaffer picked Suryakumar Yadav as Mumbai Indians’ next captain as Hardik Pandya was not able to deliver. 

He said, “Suryakumar Yadav would be one of the options. Rohit Sharma would be a backward [decision] because there is an age factor as well. Surya would be the right guy at this stage.”

MI ended IPL 2026 in ninth place after managing only four wins.