Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 22: Lucknow Super Giants have endured a poor start to their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign, with their faltering top order emerging as a major concern.
While players like Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant, and Mitchell Marsh have struggled for consistency, the biggest disappointment has been star batter Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran has had a dismal season so far, scoring just 51 runs in six innings at an average of 8.50 and a strike rate of 79.68. As a result, LSG find themselves in ninth place on the points table with only four points from six matches.
Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull criticised Pooran and the team’s over-reliance on overseas batters.
“Their biggest issue is the three overseas players. You have got three overseas batters in your top five. One of them, Markram, has put in a couple of performances. Marsh has not done a lot, and Pooran has done absolutely nothing. That is your biggest issue,” Doull said.
He added that the team is now experimenting with changes, including promoting Ayush Badoni to open the innings in a bid to find stability.
LSG have shuffled their batting order multiple times this season. They initially opened with Pant and Marsh, with Markram at No. 3, followed by Badoni and Pooran. Later combinations saw Pant move to No. 3, with Markram and Marsh opening. Pooran was also promoted to No. 4 in a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru but failed to deliver. Further changes were made against Punjab Kings, with Badoni opening alongside Marsh.
Criticising the frequent reshuffling, Doull said the team appears uncertain about its batting order and has been forced into early changes in search of form.
Pant, the league’s highest-paid player at Rs 27 crore, and Pooran, retained for Rs 21 crore, have also come under scrutiny. “You have spent 50 crores on two players who have won you one game,” Doull remarked, pointing to the lack of returns from key investments.
He further noted that successful teams tend to rely more on strong Indian batting cores, suggesting LSG’s heavy dependence on overseas players may be affecting their balance.
With performances failing to click, LSG will be looking for quick improvements as the tournament progresses.