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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are one of the very few teams who are yet to lay their hands on the coveted IPL trophy. With the dynamic keeper-batter Rishabh Pant at the helm, the Super Giants will still have their task cut out after back-to-back overwhelming seasons.
What are Lucknow Super Giants’ strengths?
The Super Giants have a glut of very talented overseas batters in Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Matthew Breetzke and Josh Inglis. Although there are question marks over how many matches will Inglis be available for, the likes of Pooran, Markram and Marsh are fully capable of setting the tone for the team early on, as the trio did in IPL 2025. Hence, they will once again find themselves under the spotlight and must take the responsibility.
What are Lucknow Super Giants’ weaknesses?
An injury-laden and inconsistent bowling unit will be the biggest challenge for Lucknow. The likes of Mayank Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan are highly injury-prone bowlers. Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who fetched ₹2 crore in the auction, also remains under the injury cloud. Digvesh Rathi’s fiesty nature could yet give LSG an edge. Rishabh Pant will once again face pressure after failing to live up to the price tag of ₹27 crore in IPL 2025. The keeper-batter must deliver across facets and pull his weight this season. LSG also lack experienced Indian batters in their setup; hence, the role of Pant will be even more critical.
What are Lucknow Super Giants’ opportunities?
As mentioned above, the top three of Markram, Marsh and Pooran will have the responsibility of setting the tone. Markram already had an outstanding T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and performed well in the previous IPL edition. Pooran and Marsh will also be keen to carry from where they left in the previous season. Ayush Badoni will look to strengthen his case as the next international superstar, while Arshin Kulkarni will also see it as an opportunity to put his best foot forward. LSG will also enjoy playing two matches at home apart from one each in Hyderabad and Kolkata in the first phase of IPL 2026. Yet, Nortje and Shami will prove lethal if they can hit their straps consistently.
What are Lucknow Super Giants’ threats?
With Lucknow proving to be a high-scoring venue in IPL 2025, the hosts’ bowling unit could not only be exposed in their opening game but also in the next three matches to come. Although Prince Yadav showcased plenty of promise in IPL 2025, the inconsistencies and run-leaking tendencies of Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje could hurt Lucknow big time.
Lucknow Super Giants squad
Rishabh Pant(C), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul SamadShahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammed Shami,Avesh KhanM. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.
LSG probable playing XI
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje.
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