Lucknow Super Giants step into IPL 2026 with a fresh sense of purpose. After a disappointing seventh-place finish in 2025, the franchise has made sharp moves to fix its weak spots. Rishabh Pant continues as captain, and Justin Langer remains at the helm as head coach. Their mission this season is to Push for that first-ever IPL title.
LSG retained 17 players before the auction, traded in Mohammad Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad and Arjun Tendulkar from Mumbai Indians, and then picked up six more players at the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.
They spent INR 102.5 crore on retention and trades, and walked into the auction with a purse of INR 22.95 crore. Their biggest buy was Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis at INR 8.6 crore. They also snapped up Anrich Nortje and Wanindu Hasaranga at their base prices. The 25-player squad now looks balanced, deep, and ready for action.
Final Predicted XI
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Marsh | Opener / All-rounder |
| 2 | Aiden Markram | Opener |
| 3 | Nicholas Pooran (wk) | Top-order Batter |
| 4 | Rishabh Pant (c, wk) | Middle-order Batter |
| 5 | Ayush Badoni | All-rounder |
| 6 | Abdul Samad | Power-hitter |
| 7 | Wanindu Hasaranga | Spin All-rounder |
| 8 | Mohammad Shami | Fast Bowler |
| 9 | Mayank Yadav | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Avesh Khan | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Digvesh Rathi | Spinner |
Impact Sub: Anrich Nortje / Shahbaz Ahmed / Arshin Kulkarni
Backups: Josh Inglis, Mohsin Khan, and Prince Yadav
So, what does LSG’s strongest XI look like heading into IPL 2026? Here is a position-by-position breakdown.
1. Mitchell Marsh (Opener, All-rounder)
Mitchell Marsh opens the batting and brings all-round value to the lineup. The Australian captain proved his worth with LSG in IPL 2025, finishing as one of the franchise’s top three run-scorers. He scored over 500 runs and hit plenty of sixes, forming a strong opening pair with Aiden Markram.
Marsh combines power hitting with the ability to anchor an innings when needed. He takes on pace bowling with ease and can punish spinners who bowl loose. His medium-pace bowling also gives LSG an extra option in the middle overs. At 34, his experience in global T20 leagues adds calm to the top order.
2. Aiden Markram (Opener)
South Africa’s T20I captain Aiden Markram takes the other opening slot. After a slow start in IPL 2025, Markram found his groove and rattled off five half-centuries in the second half of the season. He and Marsh combined for 483 runs as a pair across 11 innings, making them one of the best opening duos of the tournament.
Markram brings elegance and grit in equal measure. He plays clean drives through the off side, pulls with authority, and has added reverse sweeps and lofted shots to his T20 game over the years. His captaincy experience for South Africa means he reads the game well and supports Pant on the field. The left-right combination with Marsh also keeps the opposition bowlers from settling into a rhythm.
3. Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper)
Nicholas Pooran walks in at number three, and he might just be the most explosive middle-order batter in the entire IPL. The Trinidadian left-hander had a stunning IPL 2025, scoring 524 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate close to 200. He smashed 40 sixes during the season, the most by any batter, and became the first LSG player to cross 100 sixes for the franchise.
Pooran’s ability to clear any boundary at will makes him a nightmare for bowlers. He thrives in the middle overs and can single-handedly shift the momentum of a game within a few deliveries. With 2,293 runs in 90 IPL matches, he has firmly established himself as one of the format’s top power-hitters. LSG retained him for INR 21 crore, and that investment looks well justified.
4. Rishabh Pant (Captain, Wicketkeeper)
Rishabh Pant bats at number four and leads the team. The left-hander had a tough IPL 2025, managing only 269 runs in 13 innings. But he ended the season on a high with a brilliant 118 not out off just 61 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, proving that he can still turn a match on its head.
Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when LSG bought him for INR 27 crore ahead of the 2025 season. His fearless stroke play and ability to take on any bowler make him a constant threat. With 3,553 runs across 125 IPL matches at an average of 34.16, his track record speaks for itself. This season, he will want to lead from the front and deliver the consistent performances that his price tag demands.
5. Ayush Badoni (All-rounder)
Ayush Badoni slots in at number five and plays the role of the steady hand in the middle order. The right-hander has grown into one of LSG’s most reliable performers over the past few seasons. He reads the match situation well and can both anchor the innings and accelerate when the team needs quick runs.
Badoni also chips in with useful off-spin, giving Pant a handy extra bowling option. His versatility as a batting all-rounder makes him a valuable player in the squad. At 24, he still has room to grow and can play a bigger role for LSG as the tournament progresses.
6. Abdul Samad (Power-hitter)
Abdul Samad fills the lower middle-order power-hitting slot at number six. The big-hitting right-hander from Jammu and Kashmir brings raw six-hitting ability to the death overs. Out of 741 runs in his overall IPL career, 480 have come from boundaries alone, which shows just how destructive he can be.
Samad thrives when the team needs quick runs in the final five overs. His strong bottom hand and muscular frame allow him to clear the biggest of grounds. His ten-ball 30 not out against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 showed exactly what he brings to the table. If he can find more consistency, he can turn into a genuine match-winner for LSG.
7. Wanindu Hasaranga (Spin All-rounder)
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga fills the fourth overseas spot and plays as the spin-bowling all-rounder at number seven. LSG picked him up at the auction for his base price of INR 2 crore, which could turn out to be one of the bargain buys of the season.
Hasaranga brings world-class leg-spin to the table. He can pick up wickets in the middle overs with his googlies and can also control the run rate when needed. On top of that, he adds handy runs down the order with his aggressive batting. His experience in global T20 leagues and international cricket makes him a huge asset for any team. LSG brought him in as a replacement for Ravi Bishnoi, and he could easily outperform the man he replaced.
8. Mohammad Shami (Fast Bowler)
Mohammad Shami leads LSG’s pace attack after joining the franchise through a trade from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The veteran Indian seamer brings a wealth of experience with 130-plus IPL wickets and a proven record in all phases of the game.
Shami’s strength lies in his ability to swing the new ball early and nail yorkers at the death. He can also extract seam movement from helpful pitches. After recovering from his Achilles injury, Shami will be eager to prove his fitness and make a strong comeback. If he bowls at full fitness, he gives LSG a genuine strike bowler who can pick up wickets in the powerplay and at the death.
9. Mayank Yadav (Fast Bowler)
Mayank Yadav adds raw pace to the LSG bowling attack. The 22-year-old from Delhi became a sensation in IPL 2024 when he consistently clocked speeds above 150 kmph, touching a high of 156.7 kmph. He picked up seven wickets in just four matches that season and earned an India T20I debut.
Injuries have been a recurring challenge for Mayank. He missed the first half of IPL 2025 with a lumbar stress injury and returned with reduced pace, mostly bowling in the 130-140 kmph range. But he showed smart variations, using slower balls and change of pace to pick up wickets. With a full off-season to work on his fitness, LSG will hope Mayank returns to his fearsome best. When fully fit, the Shami-Mayank combination can terrorize any batting lineup.
10. Avesh Khan (Fast Bowler)
Avesh Khan provides depth and reliability in the pace department. The right-arm fast bowler has been a consistent wicket-taker across multiple IPL seasons with different franchises. His ability to bowl tight spells at the death and pick up key wickets makes him a strong option alongside Shami and Mayank.
Avesh brings pace and bounce to the attack. He can hit the hard lengths that make it difficult for batters to score freely. If Mayank’s fitness remains a concern, Avesh can step up as the second seamer alongside Shami. Mohsin Khan, another left-arm quick on the roster, serves as a ready backup if either pacer needs rest.
11. Digvesh Rathi (Spinner)
Left-arm spinner Digvesh Rathi completes the playing XI. He provides a different angle in the spin department alongside Hasaranga. His left-arm orthodox spin can keep things tight in the middle overs and work as a partnership-breaking option.
On pitches that offer turn, the Hasaranga-Rathi combination gives LSG two different types of spin. Hasaranga attacks with his leg-spin and googlies, while Rathi controls the other end with his accuracy. Manimaran Siddharth offers another left-arm spin option from the bench if the team wants to rotate.
Impact Player Options
LSG has strong options for the impact player slot. Anrich Nortje, the South African speedster, can replace one of the Indian pacers when conditions favor extra pace. His ability to bowl above 150 kmph adds a different dimension to the attack. Shahbaz Ahmed offers a left-arm spin all-round option with useful lower-order runs.
Arshin Kulkarni, the uncapped all-rounder, provides a batting-heavy alternative when the team needs extra depth in the middle order. Josh Inglis can slot in as an aggressive top-order option whenever he is available, though his participation may be limited this season.
The choice of impact player will change based on the pitch, the opposition, and the match situation. This flexibility gives Pant plenty of tactical options throughout the tournament.
Overseas Players Breakdown
IPL rules allow four overseas players in the playing XI. LSG’s likely four overseas picks are:
- Mitchell Marsh (Australia)
- Aiden Markram (South Africa)
- Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Anrich Nortje and Josh Inglis sit as overseas backup options. If Hasaranga has an off day or the pitch demands extra pace, Nortje can slot right in as the fourth overseas player. Inglis adds batting cover whenever he is available during the season.
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Conclusion: LSG Has The Firepower To Challenge For The Title
LSG’s predicted XI looks balanced across all departments. The top order blends overseas quality with attacking intent as Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram provide a solid opening base. Nicholas Pooran’s explosive strike rate near 200 adds serious firepower at the top. With Rishabh Pant at number four, the lineup gains creativity and unpredictability.
The squad also offers strong depth and flexibility for different match situations. The pace attack led by Mohammed Shami with Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan can control all phases of the innings. Wanindu Hasaranga adds spin strength and lower order hitting, while players like Nortje and Shahbaz Ahmed provide backup options. If Pant leads well and Shami stays fit, LSG could be strong contenders for their first IPL final.
