Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are all set to make a fresh start in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) after their disappointing performance last season. This was Rishabh Pant’s first season with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and they finished 7th in IPL 2025.
The Lucknow franchise managed to win only 6 matches and lost 8 out of 14 games under the leadership of Pant, who was the most expensive player in IPL history at ₹27 crore. Nevertheless, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman failed to make a mark for the franchise as both captain and player.
Despite the poor performance, LSG showed confidence in Pant and decided to continue him as the captain in the upcoming IPL 2026, where they will start their campaign against his former team, Delhi Capitals on April 1 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
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Ravichandran Ashwin’s prediction before IPL 2026 has created a stir in the LSG camp.
Ahead of the new season, former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin made a bold statement about the Lucknow Super Giants, which will definitely hurt the franchise and its captain Pant. They clearly feel that LSG does not have the strength to compete with the top teams.
The former off-spinner has boldly said that the top three teams are already decided, and the fight for the fourth, fifth and sixth positions will be intense, but LSG will not even be a part of that race. Ashwin predicted that the Lucknow team will again finish outside the top six this season.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash’s Bat”: “I have complete clarity about the teams that will be in the top three. There is going to be a race for four, five and six, and in my view LSG is not even in that four, five or six. They will be out of the six.”
Aiden Markram out of playing eleven!
Ashwin didn’t stop there as he omitted Aiden Markram from his preferred playing XI for Lucknow Super Giants despite the South African power hitter having a breakout season as an opener in IPL 2025.
Markram was one of the consistent performers last season, scoring 445 runs in 13 matches for the team at an average of 34.23 and a strike rate of 148.83.
LSG is not eligible for playoffs – Ashwin.
Ravi Ashwin said- Lucknow Super Giants will not qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2026 and are likely to finish in the bottom four.
He also dropped Aiden Markram from the playing eleven.
– Sam (@Cricsam01) 22 March 2026
Ravichandran Ashwin drops bomb on Arjun Tendulkar’s IPL 2026 prospects
Meanwhile, another absurd comment by the former CSK legend on Arjun Tendulkar made headlines. Arjun made a big move from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow franchise, but his path in the new team is looking very difficult in the upcoming season.
LSG’s pace attack already looks loaded with big names like Mohammed Shami, and then they also have Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan – both coming back from injuries and ready to fight for their places. According to Ashwin, this will make it difficult for Arjun to make a place in the playing eleven.
He signed off by saying, “Arjun Tendulkar khelega hi nahi” (Arjun Tendulkar will not play at all), and let’s not even go there. I think it is very difficult because this lineup has Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Mohammed Shami.
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