Predicted LSG Playing XI for IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow stronger after Mohammed Shami’s addition? ...Middle East

The Lucknow Super Giants are a strange team to read going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. On paper, this is a side that should be comfortably in the playoff conversation. In reality, they are coming off another seventh-place finish, still trying to figure out what they actually are.

No team in history use three of their four overseas players in the top order. While everyone was uncertain as to how this strategy would work, LSG’s batters showed might and how! In fact, the trio of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran hammered a combined 61.4 per cent of the total 2598 runs that were scored by LSG batters. Rishabh Pant’s poor first season with LSG was also one of the factors. Now, the template remains the same. Superbly, the injury-prone pace attack is fit and available.

On that note, let us look at the strongest possible LSG playing XI with Impact sub ahead of IPL 2026.

LSG XI: Markram-Marsh-Pooran combo again

No surprises, and there is no getting around it. LSG’s entire batting identity revolves around Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran. Once again, they enter the IPL with the same approach, utilising 75% of their overseas quota inside the top three.

Marsh was one of the best batters last season with 627 runs with a strike rate of 163.7. Despite not being known as a consistent player, he delivered his best IPL season after ordinary seasons with SRH and DC. Marsh sets the tone. Markram, as always, brings balance. He complimented Marsh brilliantly up top, keeping his countryman Matthew Breetzke on the bench. Markram is not loud, but he gives you 40 off 30 when things are shaky and that matters more than it looks.

And then there is Pooran. Last season wasn’t just good, it was ridiculous. Nobody hit more sixes than Pooran’s 40 at IPL 2025. In the first half of the tournament, he was literally unplayable. His strike rate of 196.25 was just fabulous, ironing out multiple flaws in LSG’s batting.

Now comes Rishabh Pant, who sits right in the middle of this. This could define his season. He had a poor IPL last year, struggled badly against spin and never really looked settled. Despite scoring a hundred in the season, he averaged 24.45 last year. Pant is out of the Indian T20I team and isn’t a starter in the ODIs as well. Pant would love to show his white-ball skills and LSG need him to be more than just a captain. They need him to be a problem for bowlers again.

Samad-Badoni connection

After a power-packed top four, LSG have an exciting spate of uncapped Indian finishers. They are a rare commodity but LSG have four options. Out of them, two will be slotted in. Ayush Badoni, who has been with the franchise since the start, will surely make it. Badoni quietly did his job last season. 329 runs, strike rate touching 150. He even got an international call-up last year. This means more responsibilities for the Delhi youngster. He would keep his senior, Himmat Singh, out of the XI as Himmat is traditionally a top-order batter despite him having a great practice game in the pre-season.

Meanwhile, Abdul Samad should start as well for Lucknow. Samad, after playing six IPL seasons, needs that brilliant campaign. The most he has scored in a season is 182 that came for SRH in 2024. Last year, he was picked up by LSG, and scored 164 runs at 176.34. He is senior to the new acquisitions Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuwanshi and should start ahead.

However, someone like Mukul presents an exciting case. In the most recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he struck at 198.85. He will definitely get a chance some time in the season.

Hasaranga’s availability solves many puzzles

This is where LSG have tried to fix things. Last season, their pacers were leaking runs at over 10 per over. That cannot happen again. With having three overseas batters in the top three, LSG have to put up an all-Indian attack. While they do have Anrich Nortje in the squad, he cannot play if they want someone like Wanindu Hasaranga in the middle.

The Sri Lankan is a must as LSG need a bridge to their batting and bowling. Although he hasn’t joined the LSG camp yet and may miss the first game on April 1 against DC. In his place, LSG can slot in another finisher or a pacer, considering the look of the pitch. But when available, Hasaranga is non-negotiable in the team, as he provides a bankable four-over quota and a handy bat.

Similarly, Shahbaz Ahmed is a frugal option. Basically, LSG had to let Krunal Pandya go and got Shahbaz from RCB in return. Both are like-for-like players in terms of skill set. But Shahbaz needs to prove and perform big time. He had a fantastic domestic season for Kolkata, scoring 390 runs in VHT and 434 runs in the Ranji Trophy alongside 49 wickets across all competitions.

Injury-prone pace attack to be led by Shami

Now comes the pace attack. Mohammed Shami comes in as the senior head. His IPL numbers last year were underwhelming, but 16 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy suggest he still has enough left in the tank. In the training sessions, he is looking sharp and his camaraderie with Bharat Arun, the bowling coach, is exceptional too. He took 68 wickets across all formats for Bengal this season.

Meanwhile, the bigger news is the return of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan. Mayank has been bowling with full steam and it would be interesting how he copes with expectations. Since breaking through with eye-catching speeds that once touched 156.7 kmph, his career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries. Hope it isn’t the case anymore.

Meanwhile, for the last pace-bowling slot, there will be a toss-up between Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan. We feel it should be Mohsin, considering LSG would need a left-arm angle as well. He missed the entire IPL 2025 due to injuries but his ability to dish in great yorkers is something that LSG desperately need. Unfortunately, a superb talent like Prince Yadav might miss out in the XI until the management benches both Mohsin and Avesh.

Since this is the batting first XI, Digvesh Rathi will be the impact sub in the team. He can replace someone like Marsh in the second innings since the Australian doesn’t bowl at all. Digvesh quietly emerged as a reliable option for LSG, picking up 14 wickets last season and often stepping up when the attack needed control. He was a revalation, picked up from the Delhi Premier League. Still early in his career, but he already looks like someone who can handle pressure and deliver in key moments.

Strongest LSG Playing XII for IPL 2026

LSG IPL 2026 squad

Rishabh Pant (C), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.

Predicted LSG Playing XI for IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow stronger after Mohammed Shami’s addition? Inside Sport India.

Hence then, the article about predicted lsg playing xi for ipl 2026 rishabh pant s lucknow stronger after mohammed shami s addition was published today ( Thursday 26/03/2026 - 01:21 PM ) and is available on Inside sport ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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