In their four-year journey as an IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants have rarely been shy about bold decisions. Last year’s Rs 27 crore splurge on Rishabh Pant rewrote auction history, but it also underlined a deeper truth about this team: LSG live on big swings, big bets and big risks. Some pay off handsomely, others end up burning holes in their season.As LSG head into the IPL 2026 Auction with Rs 22.95 crore purse, they are entering a tricky stage of building their squad. They have released two key players at the same time. David Miller’s exit has left a clear gap in the finishing role, while letting go of Ravi Bishnoi has created a big hole in their spin attack.
Even though LSG finished seventh last season, this is not a team in ruins. It is a team with an elite ceiling but brittle execution.
A top order that can match anyone
If there was a redeeming story in LSG’s 2025 season, it would be their top three batters. Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran were among the most consistent cores in the league.Markram scored 445 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150 and chipped in with handy off-breaks. Marsh hit the franchise’s most runs in the season, crossing 600 runs at 163. Pooran, despite retiring internationally, is still one of the best in T20s and delivered a blistering 500-run season at a strike rate touching 200.Their top three did the heavy lifting in every match. The problem was everything that followed.
Pant’s forgettable season and the empty middle
Rishabh Pant’s signing was expected to transform Lucknow’s batting depth, but he endured the worst campaign of his career by a long distance. His 269 runs at a strike rate of 133 were flattering only because of a final-game 118 not out against RCB. For most of the season, he looked short of rhythm, confidence and intent.David Miller, brought in as the specialist finisher, did not make the impact LSG had hoped for. With him gone and Pant unreliable, the middle order unravelled repeatedly. Badoni remains inconsistent, while Samad is still learning the art of situational batting.This is why LSG entered the auction with their biggest requirement being two middle-order batters — ideally one overseas hitter and one Indian stabiliser. Liam Livingstone seems to be the best option available for them this auction. Abhinav Manohar can also be a domestic lower-order batter they can look at.
The spin dilemma after Bishnoi
Releasing Ravi Bishnoi was a surprise. A young, elite Indian leg-spinner is gold dust in the IPL. His exit forces LSG to rebuild an entirely new spin pairing around Digvesh Rathi, who had a promising debut season but will need support. Markram can offer some off-spin, but they still require a frontline partner for Rathi.
The choices available are:
- Wanindu Hasaranga, the marquee spin all-rounder who also strengthens the lower order
- Rahul Chahar, a defensive spinner who can complement Rathi
- Michael Bracewell or Sikandar Raza, if LSG want batting cushion plus overs
A bowling attack built on hope, not certainty
LSG’s biggest vulnerability last year was the bowling across all phases. They had:
- the worst powerplay economy
- the worst middle-overs economy
- the fourth-worst death-overs economy
They also took the second-fewest wickets with the new ball and the third-fewest in the middle overs.And yet — little has changed.Mohammad Shami has been traded in, bringing experience and new-ball skill. He is coming off a good domestic season, but given his age, he is no longer a guaranteed 14-match workhorse. Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan have again been retained, which reflects faith but also stubbornness. Both have missed the majority of the last two seasons with injury. Prince Yadav, Akash Singh and Siddharth M remain backups.At this point, LSG are betting on the returns of injury-prone bowlers rather than reinforcing the attack. It is a dangerous gamble.They still have:
- no overseas seamers
- no overseas spinners
They may need at least one overseas quick, and someone like Mustafizur Rahman is a perfect fit for them. The Ekana pitch assists cutters and grip, and Fizz’s left-arm angle would add much-needed variety.
Why the all-rounder slot is crucial
LSG’s combination forces them to play an entirely Indian bowling attack, with four overseas slots consumed by Markram, Marsh, Pooran and the incoming middle-order signing. This is rare in the IPL and puts enormous pressure on domestic bowlers.If they choose to sacrifice an overseas middle-order batter, then a player like Hasaranga suddenly becomes priceless. He offers quality spin, lower-order hitting and flexibility. Alternatively, they could invest in overseas bowlers such as Mustafizur, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Gerald Coetzee or Fazalhaq Farooqi.LSG enter the IPL Auction 2026 with a squad that has world-class top-order power but a fragile middle and lower-middle structure. Their bowling attack is long on names but short on reliability, with major injury concerns.Yet this team has a high ceiling. A few correct buys — one overseas middle-order hitter, one spinner and one Indian finisher — and suddenly they look like contenders again.LSG likely XI: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, Overseas batter, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Rathi, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav / Mohsin KhanImpact Player: A spinner
