IPL 2026: Predicting LSG’s strongest playing XI

Following a dismal 2025 season, the Lucknow Super Giants entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction. LSG added six players to the squad after keeping 17 players and acquiring Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar prior to the auction. The team made some difficult decisions by trading Shardul Thakur to the Mumbai Indians and releasing David Miller, Ravi Bishnoi, and Akash Deep.

Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh performed admirably for LSG at the top of the order in the 2025 IPL. It would be unjust to remove one of them. But now that they paid a hefty 8.6 crores for Josh Inglis, it appears to be almost certain. Markram may be sacrificed because of his poor performance in the just-finished India-South Africa series. With Marsh at the top, either Josh Inglis or Nicholas Pooran might start, with the other coming at three.

Rishabh Pant, the captain and captain, will next bat at number four. Throughout the middle overs, his spin-hitting ability will be vital. He will be followed by Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad, both of whom made respectable contributions in the previous season. Wanindu Hasaranga, a recent addition, is also anticipated to play, in pace-friendly circumstances, he might be replaced by a specialist batter or a pacer.

There is a large pool of pacers at LSG. Mohammed Shami will surely lead this bowling attack, but since he can provide seam movement with the new ball, he should be used more during the power play. In the middle overs, Mayank Yadav can take advantage of his 150+ pace advantage. With the field stretched out, batters will struggle against him because he can hit the deck hard and at a fast tempo.

The finest choices for spinners are the leg-spin combo of Digvesh Rathi and Wanindu Hasaranga. Last year, Rathi showed a lot of potential, and Hasaranga's variations, particularly the googly, are deceitful.

LSG’s strongest playing 11 for IPL 2026 

Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Josh Inglis, Rishabh Pant (c and wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Shami, Digvesh Rathi, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan.

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