₹27 Crore — Most Expensive Indian Player Ever

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Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2026

Full Squad, Predicted XI & Season Preview

Last updated: 20 March 2026 · By CricketPrediction.com

Lucknow Super Giants have built IPL 2026 around star power and new leadership. Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore) captains a batting lineup that features Mitchell Marsh (627 runs at SR 163.71 in 2025, LSG’s top scorer) and Nicholas Pooran (524 runs at SR 196.25, the most destructive middle-order bat in the tournament). New head coach Justin Langer brings intensity and structure. Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje add international quality at bargain prices.

The question is whether this squad can fix what broke in 2025. LSG finished 7th (6 wins, 8 losses) despite individual brilliance from Marsh and Pooran. Pant’s form was below his best (269 runs, avg 24.45). Mohammed Shami’s comeback from injury was poor (6 wickets, economy 11.23 at SRH before being traded). And Mayank Yadav’s 155kph pace remains sidelined by back surgery. If Pant rediscovers his 2024 form (446 runs, avg 40.55, SR 155.40), LSG have enough talent to reach the playoffs. If he doesn’t, this squad becomes an expensive collection of individuals.

Key Players

Rishabh Pant (₹27 Cr, retained, captain)

The most expensive Indian player in IPL history had a season to forget in 2025. 269 runs in 14 matches, average 24.45, strike rate 133.17. One century and one fifty. By Pant’s own standards (career average 35+, career SR 148+), this was a failure. The 2022 car accident that nearly ended his career cannot be ignored as context: recovery is not linear. Justin Langer has publicly backed Pant, saying “champions don’t stay down for long.” LSG’s entire 2026 campaign rests on whether that faith is justified.

Mitchell Marsh (₹3.4 Cr, retained)

The bargain of the decade. Marsh scored 627 runs in 13 matches at an average of 48.23 and strike rate of 163.71. His century (117 vs GT) and 6 fifties made him LSG’s most reliable batter in 2025. At ₹3.4 crore versus Pant’s ₹27 crore, Marsh delivered 2.3x the runs at a fraction of the price. He did not bowl a single over in 2025, focusing entirely on batting. If he stays fit for 14 matches, 500+ runs is the floor.

Nicholas Pooran (₹21 Cr, retained)

Pooran’s strike rate of 196.25 in IPL 2025 (524 runs, 14 matches, 45 fours, 40 sixes) was the highest among batters with 400+ runs. His average of 43.67 meant he scored quickly AND consistently. At 30, Pooran is the most destructive middle-order batter in T20 cricket. He keeps wicket too, giving LSG lineup flexibility.

Mohammed Shami (₹10 Cr, traded from SRH)

Shami’s 2025 comeback was underwhelming: 6 wickets in 9 matches, economy 11.23 at SRH. He conceded 75 runs in 4 overs against PBKS — the costliest spell by an Indian in IPL history. This was his first IPL since 2023 (he missed 2024 due to Achilles surgery). The talent remains: 130kph outswingers in the powerplay and yorkers at the death. But LSG need the 2023 Shami (28 wickets, economy 8.03, Purple Cap winner at GT), not the 2025 version.

Mayank Yadav (₹11 Cr, retained)

The fastest bowler in IPL history (155kph). But back injuries limited him to 4 matches in 2024 and he missed the entire 2025 season due to back surgery. At ₹11 crore, LSG are paying for potential. If Mayank returns mid-season at full pace, LSG’s bowling attack transforms overnight. If the back does not hold, ₹11 crore sits on the bench.

Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2 Cr, auction)

Sri Lanka’s leg-spinning all-rounder at ₹2 crore is an auction steal. Hasaranga has 130+ T20I wickets and can bat at 7 or 8. He gives LSG the quality spinner they desperately lacked in 2025. On Ekana’s slow surface, his leg-spin and googly will be difficult for batters to read.

Anrich Nortje (₹2 Cr, auction)

South African express pace (150kph+) at ₹2 crore. Nortje has 60+ IPL wickets and played a key role in DC’s campaigns. He provides LSG with raw pace backup for when Mayank Yadav is unavailable. The only concern is his own injury history.

Strengths

Batting firepower is among the best in the tournament. Marsh (627 runs, SR 163.71), Pooran (524 runs, SR 196.25), and Pant (career SR 148+) give LSG three batters who can score at 8+ runs per over. When even two of these three fire, LSG post match-winning totals.

Justin Langer brings structure. As Australia’s head coach, Langer won the T20 World Cup 2021. His intensity, tactical discipline, and ability to manage egos is exactly what a squad of star players needs. Tom Moody as Director of Cricket and Kane Williamson as Strategic Advisor add experience.

Hasaranga fixes the spin gap. LSG’s 2025 campaign suffered from having no quality spinner. Hasaranga’s leg-spin, 130+ T20I wickets, and lower-order batting give LSG a weapon they lacked entirely.

Budget overseas additions add depth. Hasaranga (₹2 Cr), Nortje (₹2 Cr), and Josh Inglis (₹8.6 Cr) were all signed at below their market value. Smart spending gave LSG quality without blowing their purse.

Weaknesses

Pant’s form is the single biggest risk. 269 runs at avg 24.45 in 2025. For a ₹27 crore captain, anything below 400 runs and an average of 35 is underperformance. The car accident recovery, the pressure of justifying the price tag, and adapting to Langer’s demanding style all add stress.

Shami’s comeback was poor. 6 wickets in 9 matches at economy 11.23 at SRH in 2025. He conceded 75 runs in 4 overs against PBKS. Post-Achilles surgery, his pace was down and accuracy inconsistent. At ₹10 crore and age 36, Shami must prove his 2023 form (28 wickets for GT, Purple Cap winner) was not the last great season.

Mayank Yadav’s absence early is costly. Without him, LSG’s pace attack is Shami (unreliable 2025), Avesh Khan (econ 10.29 in 2025), Mohsin Khan, and Nortje. That is functional, not frightening. Mayank’s 155kph changes the calculation entirely, but only if he is fit.

7 overseas for 4 slots creates difficult choices. Marsh, Pooran, Markram, Inglis, Hasaranga, Nortje, and Breetzke compete for 4 spots. Marsh and Pooran are locked. Choosing between Hasaranga (spin), Nortje (pace), Markram (batting), and Inglis (WK backup) depends on conditions but means leaving quality on the bench.

Full Squad (25 Players)

Predicted XI

Overseas slots (3/4): Marsh, Pooran, Hasaranga. The 4th slot rotates between Nortje (pace on bouncy pitches), Markram (batting + off-spin on flat tracks), and Inglis (WK backup for Pooran rest days). This gives Langer tactical flexibility to adapt to conditions.

When Mayank Yadav returns: He replaces Mohsin Khan or M Siddharth, and the XI becomes significantly more threatening. A pace attack of Shami, Avesh, and Mayank (155kph) is one of the fastest in IPL history.

Coaching Staff

Langer coached Australia to the T20 World Cup 2021 title and has a reputation for demanding intensity and fitness. Tom Moody brings franchise cricket experience across multiple T20 leagues. The most intriguing appointment is Kane Williamson as Strategic Advisor. The former New Zealand captain brings tactical intelligence that could help Pant’s on-field decision-making.

Schedule (Phase 1)

Opening match context: LSG vs DC on April 1 is the most anticipated fixture of the opening week. Rishabh Pant faces his former franchise. Pant spent 7 years at DC before the 2025 mega auction, scoring 2,838 runs. Emotional matches produce either match-winning performances or self-destructive pressure. How Pant handles this defines the opening tone.

Title History

LSG made the playoffs in their first 2 seasons (2022-2023) but have now missed out in both 2024 and 2025, finishing 7th both times. The franchise needs a turnaround. The squad was rebuilt around Pant and new auction buys. A return to the playoffs would represent success; anything less means the rebuild failed.

Season Prediction

Our prediction: 5th-7th place (on the bubble for playoffs).

LSG’s batting ceiling is among the highest in the tournament. If Marsh, Pooran, and Pant all fire, they can post 220+ against any bowling attack. But their bowling remains a question mark. Shami’s 2025 was poor. Avesh Khan’s economy of 10.29 is expensive. Mayank Yadav is injured. Hasaranga adds spin quality, but LSG need their pacers to deliver, not just their spinner.

The Langer factor could tilt things either way. His intensity has historically brought the best out of talented squads (Australia 2021), but it has also created friction with players who resist structured coaching. Pant is the test case: if Langer can focus Pant’s aggression without restricting his natural game, LSG punch above their weight. If the relationship frays mid-season, LSG collapse.

The most likely scenario: LSG hover around 5th-7th place, winning matches at home (Ekana suits their slower-pitch bowling) and losing away against pace-friendly conditions. A late-season Mayank Yadav return could fuel a playoff push, but relying on a player recovering from back surgery is not a strategy.

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