Lucknow Super Giants may not have qualified for the playoffs, but next year, they might just be the team everyone needs to watch out for.
A brand-new team, a brand-new leader, and a fighting spirit that never gave up till the very end — LSG’s 2025 season may not have been a full-blown masala movie, but it sure dropped enough teasers for what could be a blockbuster sequel in 2026. With a bit of editing, a few casting changes, Lucknow could well become next season’s box-office king.
Let’s start with the fireworks — their batting didn’t just click, it detonated like an early Diwali. Their top order was so effective, the middle order barely got a call. Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram turned the opening slot into a rocket launcher, scoring 627 and 445 runs respectively. Marsh batted with such finesse, it felt like even the teacher had given up and taken a seat at the back of the class.
And then came Nicholas Pooran — 40 sixes, yes, forty! The most in this season so far. Right behind him? Mr. Marsh again, with 37 sixes of his own. Rishabh Pant, the hype machine, may not have fired all season, but closed it off with a thunderous century. Just imagine — if the top 4 all click in one match, the bowlers might not even get a chance to field!
And it’s not like LSG didn’t have other contributors. Ayush Badoni scored 329 runs in 11 innings and was the third-highest scorer among uncapped players this season. If he’d gotten to bat in a few more games towards the end, he might’ve even cracked the top 2. David Miller couldn’t quite find his groove this season — but hey, maybe he’s saving the fireworks for next year.
So what went wrong? The batting was solid, the intent was aggressive, but injuries threw the script off completely. When your main bowlers are ruled out before the tournament even begins, the team dynamics are bound to take a hit. Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Avesh Khan were all nursing injuries just as the season kicked off. While Avesh and Mayank did make a return, the impact just wasn’t there. Mayank played only two matches, and Avesh ended up going for over 10 runs an over across 13 games. That said, we know the kind of quality he brings when he’s fully fit.
The silver lining? Digvesh Rathi. The rookie spinner stepped up in a big way — 14 wickets in 13 matches with an economy of just 8.2. Not too shabby for someone playing his first-ever IPL season.
And now imagine this — if Mohsin Khan returns to full fitness by next year, and if LSG can pick up a couple of quality bowlers in the mini-auction, then mark these words: this team will be a serious force in IPL 2026.
