Trophy brings recognition, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has a clear message for the team ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Last season, the team had made a good start, which it could not maintain for long. The result was that the team was out of the title race after reaching the playoffs.
For the 2026 Indian Premier League, the team invested the majority of the purse in rebuilding its bowling arsenal. Goenka mentioned that his last season was mostly marred by several injuries. But, he also finished the season with some positivity.
Identity still evolving: Sanjiv Goenka, LSG boss
Speaking on JioStar, the LSG owner claimed that the team is still in the development phase. So unless the team wins the IPL trophy, LSG will not get the respect or affection that a champion team gets after hoisting the trophy.
“I think the real identity is still evolving. For any sports team, unless you win, you don’t get the level of respect or affection that comes with lifting a trophy. Yes, we have made the playoffs twice, but it is clearly not enough. You win some, lose some, but we have to win our first trophy,” Sanjiv Goenka said.
Goenka wants to see the team perform as a unit
The LSG boss further explains that his performance last year was more on an individual basis rather than a unit. This season he wants to see the team game on the field.
He said, “You can always improve, aspire to do better, there is no end to improving. But at the end of the day, this is a team that has all the essentials. Now it is about coming together and performing as a unit rather than individually. Last year, a lot of people were performing. This year, we want to perform as a team.”
Some positive things from IPL 2025 season
The opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram proved to be a hit for LSG in 2025. As an opener, Marsh scored 627 runs in 13 matches, and his opening partner scored 445 runs in 13 matches. On the bowling front, it was emerging spinner Digvesh Rathi who emerged as the highest wicket-taker for the team with 14 wickets in 13 matches.
The LSG boss noted, “The positive was that we won four of our first six games despite injuries to most of our frontline bowlers. There were some bold moves, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opened, which is not their usual position, and it turned out to be their best IPL season for both of them.”
He said, “Digvesh Rathi came in as a complete newcomer and did well for us. However, we realized that we lacked a strong bowling corps and we have consciously addressed it this time by building a domestic Indian bowling unit. We are happy with what we have.”
The Rishabh Pant-led team will begin its IPL 2026 journey on April 1. Their opening match will be against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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