Lucknow Super Giants: No longer new, not yet defined

A star-heavy top order remains their calling card, but questions around balance, and what they truly are as a unit under Rishabh Pant, still linger © BCCI/IPL

A star-heavy top order remains their calling card, but questions around balance, and what they truly are as a unit under Rishabh Pant, still linger © BCCI/IPL

Vibe in one line

Infants no more, but still searching for their real self.

What's changed in 2026

The good bits remain the same, starting with a star-heavy top order. But good teams don't run solely on overseas muscle, and LSG's weakest link - their pace bowling - has required some domestic reinforcements.

An ageing Mohammed Shami replaces Shardul Thakur as attack leader. Naman Tiwari and Arjun Tendulkar add to their bevy of left-arm seamers.

In Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuvanshi, they have added two exciting backup finishers.

The overseas crew is also refurbished. Josh Inglis fills the David Miller vacancy. If fit, Wanindu Hasaranga can be a potential upgrade on Ravi Bishnoi, and an interesting ally to Digvesh Rathi. Anrich Nortje adds serious wheels to an already pacy attack.

Team identity

Now that's the tricky bit. Most often, an IPL captain is emblematic of his team's stature. In their post-KL Rahul era, Rishabh Pant is their poster boy but struggling through an identity crisis as a white-ball player.

It doesn't help that, after a double playoff appearance in their first two seasons, LSG have endured two seventh-place returns.

Much of what attracts is the sizzling powerhouse at the top: Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram, in order of their runs from last year. When they go big, the team feels secure.

The pace attack has infirmary frequenters from the previous season, but if they're all fit and available, it's a well-rounded unit.

Core XII (if all fit)

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Josh Inglis, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan

Injury/Availability Watch

Wanindu Hasaranga is a doubtful starter and needs to pass a fitness test to gain his NOC from Sri Lanka Cricket. Barring him, the rest of the group has so far been immune to the injury wave afflicting other teams.

What do they do better than most

Batting against spin.

In IPL 2025, LSG played spin better than anyone else. They averaged 50.7, and lost just 18 wickets to spin (the least), striking at 159.2 (the best). With a batting core that looks almost the same, it can be a great starting point.

The lineup may be frontloaded, but it's undoubtedly an enviable top three. No other team last year had a bigger contribution of runs from their overseas batters. No other top three hit as many sixes.

Its reliance that borders on unhealthy but is also their biggest strength.

A player that changes their ceiling

Nicholas Pooran

Last year, Pooran had his best IPL season, evolving from a T20 maverick to a reliable, seasoned batter. No batter hit more sixes than him last season.

His strike rate was the third-best ever for a single season (196.2) with a 400-run cutoff, and he was terrific against spin, striking at 236.5.

And it's imperative there are no breakdowns in their Indian pace group: Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan were all injured for varying durations last year. Shami has drifted away from the India setup. Whether he can still be as effective remains to be seen.

Last season was a forgettable one for LSG's seamers: their economy (10.35) was the worst amongst all teams. This could be a hit-or-miss year too.

The one to watch

Mukul Choudhary.

He may not be widely known, but his six-hitting prowess at the domestic level has generated considerable excitement. In the recent-most Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he struck at 198.85. A tall frame, clean bat-swing and round-the-ground hitting, all point towards a tantalising prospect.

One game to circle

LSG have a poor record at home since 2023 (9 wins in 22 matches), with the relaid Ekana surface proving to be a tricky home terrain. Their matches against RCB have been particularly high-voltage, and they've lost all four of their home games to them. You don't want to miss out on that fixture.

© Cricbuzz

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