Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) made headlines at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction by investing heavily in their bowling attack. While the franchise successfully bolstered its pace and spin departments, questions remain over the strength and depth of their batting lineup heading into the new season.
Despite spending big, LSG failed to secure enough reliable batters at the auction, a move that could come back to haunt them when the tournament begins in March next year.
Lower middle order a major concern for LSG, says Aakash Chopra
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has echoed similar concerns, pointing out the uncertainty surrounding LSG’s batting order — particularly in the middle and lower middle order.
“LSG have placed Rishabh Pant at number three, but beyond that, the batting order is still unclear. Pant can bat higher, and last season their top order was exceptional — three of the top four batters scored over 500 runs, which is extremely rare,” Chopra said on JioStar.
He, however, highlighted that the real problem lies lower down the order. “The concern has always been positions five, six, and seven. Players like David Miller struggled to deliver consistently last season, and that issue hasn’t been fully resolved,” Chopra added.
LSG, on the other hand, have significantly strengthened their bowling unit with the additions of Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, and Mayank Yadav, alongside young talents Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, and Arjun Tendulkar.
However, Chopra believes the imbalance persists. “They now have plenty of bowling options, but the lower-order batting still looks thin,” he noted.
Adding to LSG’s concerns is the acquisition of Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis for a hefty INR 8.6 crore. While Inglis adds firepower, his availability could be limited to just four matches due to his upcoming marriage, further complicating LSG’s batting plans for IPL 2026.
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