The adage that a captain is only as good as his team holds a grim truth for Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane. As Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) prepare to meet this Jattvibeday in the IPL, both find their leadership under scrutiny, mirroring the fading fortunes of their respective franchises.KKR’s bold decision to persist with Rahane at the helm after a woeful IPL 2025 campaign was debated even before the tournament began. The concerns have only deepened as results have failed to follow.It took them seven matches to register their first win—a narrow escape powered by individual brilliance from Rinku Singh rather than a collective resurgence.Rahane has shown flashes of positive intent, including a 67 off 40 against Mumbai Indians and a brisk 41 off 24 against LSG. However, in a format that demands sustained aggression, those starts have rarely translated into match-defining contributions.At nearly 38, persisting with him as a long-term T20 leader appears increasingly out of step with the demands of the format.Rahane hasn’t been helped by a depleted pace attack and a quiet start from spin spearhead Varun Chakravarthy. Yet, along with head coach Abhishek Nayar—who had an underwhelming campaign with UP Warriorz in this season’s Women’s Premier League—Rahane has been found wanting in key areas such as team selection and resource utilisation.Rachin Ravindra continues to warm the bench, while Finn Allen and Tim Seifert have been rotated without clear direction.Rahane’s decisions at the toss have also been questionable. Opting to bat on a two-paced, moisture-laden surface against Gujarat Titans led to a collapse to 32/3, while a similar call under overcast conditions against Punjab Kings left them reeling at 25/2 before rain intervened.Even as he has adopted a more aggressive batting approach, Rahane’s decision-making has lacked conviction. His recent returns reflect that disconnect, including consecutive ducks—the latest coming when composure was required against Rajasthan Royals. Instead, he fell to an expansive stroke, leaving KKR in deeper trouble before Rinku’s unbeaten 53 salvaged the chase.KKR may carry some momentum into the Ekana Stadium, but with just three points, they now need at least six wins from their remaining seven matches—a highly improbable task.LSG’s campaign has also unravelled. Placed ninth with just two wins at the halfway mark, the Pant-led side is staring at an early exit, compounded by four straight defeats and a series of questionable on-field decisions.Pant’s struggles have been particularly stark. Since a match-winning unbeaten 67 against Jattviberisers Hyderabad, he has managed just 72 runs in five innings, including a three-ball duck against Rajasthan Royals.That dismissal summed up his current form. Chasing 160 on a challenging pitch in Lucknow, Pant walked in after an early run-out and responded recklessly. The situation demanded patience and awareness, but Pant showed little of either.Against a disciplined Rajasthan attack featuring Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, preserving wickets in the powerplay was crucial, yet Pant’s approach lacked control.LSG’s struggles have been compounded by a poor home record. The Ekana Stadium has hardly been a fortress for the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side—six losses in eight matches here last season, including five in a row, and three consecutive defeats this year. Overall, they have managed just nine wins in 24 games at the venue.Their batting has lacked consistency, with frequent top-order collapses exposing a misfiring middle order. Overseas players Nicholas Pooran (73 runs) and Aiden Markram (162 runs) have failed to deliver consistently.The opening phase of the season belonged to the Pant-led side, who unearthed a new star in Mukul Choudhary, but he has faded since his unbeaten 54 off 27 balls.Pathirana boostKKR are set to receive a boost with the return of Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, their Rs 18-crore recruit, who is in line to make his debut for the franchise.Likely to replace Tim Seifert, Pathirana’s presence could add bite to an attack that has lacked penetration. Known for his deadly yorkers, he was seen honing his skills under bowling coach Tim Southee.His potential match-up against the likes of Mitchell Marsh and Pant could prove decisive.As far as overall captaincy records are concerned, Rahane has won six and lost 12 of his 20 matches as KKR skipper, while LSG have won eight and lost 13 of their 21 matches under Pant’s leadership.Match starts at 7:30 pm.