Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are going through a tough phase in the ongoing IPL 2026, and their 54-run defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 20 has made things worse. After the huge defeat against PBKS, Aakash Chopra has questioned LSG’s approach and tactics, especially the batting.
Lucknow Super Giants Team Looked completely confused about his batting order and had to suffer for it while chasing the mammoth target of 255 runs in New Chandigarh.
Aakash Chopra questions LSG’s strategy after PBKS defeat in IPL 2026
It was a high-scoring match as Punjab Kings scored a mammoth score of 254/7 and put Lucknow Super Giants under immense pressure right from the start. Chasing a huge target, LSG made a big mistake by sending Ayush Badoni to open the innings against PBKS.
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Aakash Chopra pointed out that teams usually go all-out from the start, but LSG’s plan seemed vague. They were neither completely aggressive nor playing safe, and this confused approach made things worse as the required run rate continued to rise and eventually, they were bowled out for 200.
Chopra said in a video posted on YouTube, “Lucknow Super Giants, who prepared your batting order? It’s like numbers are written on the back of a bat. I felt this way because Ayush Badoni had opened only once before. Why did you make him open? You were chasing 250 runs. If you are chasing 255 runs, then all your fighter planes and tanks should have been deployed in the beginning itself. Send your best batsmen. If something happens, it happens, otherwise you are losing in any case.”
Please make Aiden Markram bat at the top: Aakash Chopra
The former Indian batsman has emphasized that there is no point in losing by such a huge margin despite having wickets left. He said that this defeat showed that Lucknow’s approach against PBKS was not right, as they neither went all-out nor tried to take the game deep properly.
Big and shocking call was getting dropped aiden markram Down the batting order. Despite coming to bat at number six, Markram played an aggressive innings of 42 runs from 22 balls, which showed that he could have made a bigger impact if he had been allowed to continue as an opening batsman, Chopra believed.
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Chopra said, “They were neither here nor there, and that’s disappointing. In my opinion, the batting order was completely out of order. They sent Markram down the order. This is the second time in this tournament that they have done so. Please make Markram bat at the top. He will only do well there. Would you punish them for giving away 32 runs in an over?”
Poor form and predictable moments hurt LSG
Apart from this the commentators were not happy with the captain Rishabh PantDespite scoring 43 runs in 23 balls while batting at number three against Punjab Kings, his performance was not good. Chopra also highlighted how Nicholas Pooran is going through a “bad form” with the bat.
Chopra also pointed out that things seemed quite predictable during the chase. Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Mitchell Marsh at a crucial moment and after that, the game completely slipped away from LSG without any strong fight. He demands better performance from Marsh.