Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had a disappointing campaign in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 The season ended in 7th place in the points table after struggling with consistency. Under new leadership (Rishabh Pant) and a high-profile team reshuffle, the team failed to achieve the winning streak that had characterized their previous playoff runs.
Despite the overall poor situation, individual foreign firepower was a clear positive, especially Michelle MarshWho was the team’s highest run scorer with 627 runs including a century. nicholas puran Gave explosive finishes consistently, registering 524 runs at an incredible strike rate. However, the lack of consistent contributions from the Indian batting unit and their inability to defend a high score on their home ground were cited as the primary reasons for their early exit from the league stage.
LSG may retain 3 foreign players ahead of IPL 2026 auction
1. Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper-batsman)
Pooran is the most important foreign retention for LSG, serving as their explosive middle-order anchor and vice-captain. He was retained/acquired for a huge amount (Rs 21.0 crore) ahead of IPL 2025, highlighting his status as a marquee player. Pooran performed exceptionally well in the 2025 season, scoring 524 runs at a tremendous strike rate of 196.25, and cementing his reputation as one of the best finishers in the world. His ability to hit boundaries at will, coupled with his dual role as a wicketkeeper, provides immense structural value to the team, making retaining him a central priority to secure their attacking middle-order core.
2. Mitchell Marsh (Batting all-rounder)
Marsh is an irresistible retention candidate given his stellar batting performances in IPL 2025, where he was LSG’s leading run-scorer. He scored 627 runs at an average of 48.23 and a strike rate of over 163, including one century, demonstrating his ability to dominate opponents at the top of the order. While his bowling contributions were limited in the 2025 season, his ability as a genuine fast bowling all-rounder adds much-needed flexibility and balance to the team structure. Securing Marsh, who was bought at a relatively low price (INR 3.4 crore), makes LSG an explosive, cost-effective and high-impact match-winner.
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3. Aiden Markram (batsman/part-time off-spinner)
aiden markram He is a strategic retention for LSG due to his consistency and versatility in the batting order. He was secured at a low price (Rs 2.0 crore) in the IPL 2025 auction. Markram had a very productive season, scoring 445 runs in 13 matches at a healthy average of 34.23 and a strike rate of nearly 149, which included five half-centuries. He provides composure and stability at the top of the order, complementing the high-risk approach of other batsmen. Retaining him ensures that LSG have a reliable, capped international batsman who can also contribute useful overs of off-spin, providing excellent value for money in a specialist overseas slot.
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