Lucknow Super Giants came into IPL 2025 with Rishabh Pant as their new captain. Fans were excited. Everyone thought this would be a great season. But things went wrong from the start.
The team could not win enough matches. Some players failed badly. Others showed promise but needed more support. After a disappointing season, LSG now knows which players to trust.
Before the IPL 2026 mini auction, LSG has decided to keep 12 players. These are the players who performed well or have big potential for the future. This core group will form the base of their new team.
LSG Retained Players For IPL 2026
Here are the 12 players LSG will keep:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant (C) | Wicket-Keeper Batter |
| Nicholas Pooran | Wicket-Keeper Batter |
| Aiden Markram | Batter |
| Ayush Badoni | All-Rounder |
| Mitchell Marsh | All-Rounder |
| Abdul Samad | All-Rounder |
| Mayank Yadav | Bowler |
| Akash Singh | Bowler |
| M. Siddharth | Bowler |
| Akash Deep | Bowler |
| Shardul Thakur | Bowler |
| Digvesh Rathi | Bowler |
1. Rishabh Pant (Captain & Wicket-Keeper Batter)
Rishabh Pant will continue as LSG captain. He scored 269 runs in 14 matches in 2025. This is not his best, but LSG still believes in him.
Pant is one of India’s most exciting batters. He can hit big sixes and change matches quickly. As a wicketkeeper, he can read the game well. His leadership skills are still developing, but he has huge potential.
The management knows 2025 was difficult. But Pant is young and will learn from mistakes. With better players around him now, he can lead LSG to success.
Why keep him? Young Indian captain with explosive batting. Can win matches single-handedly when in form.
2. Nicholas Pooran (Wicket-Keeper Batter)
Nicholas Pooran is a dangerous West Indian batter. He can keep wickets and also finish matches with powerful hitting. He is one of the best T20 batters in the world.
Pooran gives LSG flexibility. If Pant wants to focus only on batting, Pooran can keep wickets. He can bat anywhere in the order and is deadly in the last overs.
Having two quality wicket-keeper batters is a luxury. Both Pant and Pooran can play together, giving LSG double firepower.
Why keep him? World-class finisher and backup keeper. Explosive batting in middle and death overs.
3. Aiden Markram (Batter)
Aiden Markram is a classy South African batter. He can open or bat in the middle order. He plays spin bowling very well and scores quickly without taking big risks.
Markram is also a smart cricketer. He is the captain of the white-ball sides of South Africa. His experience helps young players. He can guide the team during tough situations.
LSG needs reliable batters who can score consistently. Markram is exactly that type of player. He brings stability to the batting lineup.
Why keep him? Experienced batter who plays spin well. Smart cricketer with leadership qualities.
4. Ayush Badoni (All-Rounder)
Ayush Badoni is a young Indian all-rounder with lots of talent. He can bat in the middle order and bowl some useful spin overs. He is a local Delhi player who understands Indian conditions perfectly.
Badoni showed great promise in previous seasons. He can handle pressure and finish tight matches. His bowling is improving with every season.
Young Indian players are gold in IPL. They don’t take foreign spots and cost less. Badoni has the potential to become a star player for LSG.
Why keep him? Young Indian talent with big potential. Can bat and bowl both.
5. Mitchell Marsh (All-Rounder)
Mitchell Marsh is Australia’s World Cup-winning all-rounder. He can bat powerfully and bowl fast. He gives perfect balance to any team.
Marsh can open the batting or come in the middle order. His big hitting changes matches quickly. As a bowler, he can break partnerships and bowl tight overs.
Having a player like Marsh is very valuable. He does two jobs perfectly. LSG can use him in different ways depending on the match situation.
Why keep him? World-class all-rounder. Powerful batter and useful fast bowler.
6. Abdul Samad (All-Rounder)
Abdul Samad is a young power-hitter from Jammu and Kashmir. He can smash huge sixes and bowl some off-spin overs. He is still raw but has amazing talent.
Samad can win matches in the last five overs. When he connects, the ball flies miles. LSG believes he will become more consistent with experience.
His ability to bowl gives LSG extra options. Even if he bowls just 2-3 overs, it helps the team balance.
Why keep him? Young Indian power-hitter. Can clear boundaries easily in death overs.
7. Mayank Yadav (Bowler)
Mayank Yadav is the fastest Indian bowler in IPL. He can bowl at over 150 kmph. When he is fit and bowling, batters are scared of him.
In IPL 2024, Mayank became an instant star. His raw pace troubled even the best batters. Injuries have been a problem, but LSG hopes he stays fit in 2026.
Having an express fast bowler is a huge weapon. Mayank can take wickets in powerplay and bowl dangerous spells in the middle overs.
Why keep him? Fastest Indian bowler with match-winning ability. Pure pace weapon.
8. Akash Singh (Bowler)
Akash Singh is a young Indian fast bowler with good skills. He can swing the ball and bowl tight lines. He is learning from experienced bowlers and improving.
Singh may not be very famous yet, but LSG sees potential in him. He can become a reliable fast bowler for the team. Young Indian bowlers are important for team balance.
With more opportunities, Akash can prove his worth. LSG wants to develop him into a quality pace option.
Why keep him? Young Indian fast bowler with potential. Can swing the ball.
9. M. Siddharth (Bowler)
M. Siddharth is a left-arm spinner who can bowl smart variations. Spinners are very important in IPL, especially in the middle overs. Siddharth can control runs and take wickets.
Having a left-arm spinner gives LSG a different angle. Batters find it difficult to adjust. Siddharth has played domestic cricket for years and knows how to bowl in tough situations.
He may not be a superstar, but he does his job well. That’s what teams need – reliable bowlers who don’t give many runs.
Why keep him? Left-arm spinner with good control. Important for middle-over bowling.
10. Akash Deep (Bowler)
Akash Deep is a talented Indian fast bowler who plays for India now. He can bowl fast and move the ball. He is improving quickly and learning international cricket.
Deep can bowl well in all phases – powerplay, middle, and death overs. His ability to bowl yorkers is useful in the last overs. He is a complete fast bowler.
LSG is lucky to have a bowler who now plays for India. His confidence and skills have grown a lot. He will be a key bowler in 2026.
Why keep him? Talented fast bowler who plays for India. Can bowl in all phases.
11. Shardul Thakur (Bowler)
Shardul Thakur went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. LSG roped him in place of the injured Mohsin Khan last season. He finished as the third-highest wicket-taker for the team and picked up 13 wickets in 10 games at an average of 28.84.
Shardul is an experienced all-rounder and has played for six teams in the IPL since making her debut in 2015. He has picked up 107 wickets at an average of 30.31.
Why keep him? Experienced Indian all-rounder. Can bowl in all phase of the game.
12. Digvesh Rathi (Bowler)
Digvesh Rathi is a young Indian bowler who can bowl medium pace and spin both. This flexibility is very useful. Teams need players who can bowl different styles.
Rathi is still developing his skills. But LSG sees something special in him. With proper guidance, he can become an important player.
Young players who can do multiple things are very valuable. Rathi gives LSG options they can use in different conditions.
Why keep him? Young bowler who can bowl pace and spin. Flexible option for different situations.
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Conclusion: Smart Planning For A Better Future
LSG’s retention list shows they have learned from their mistakes. Instead of keeping expensive players who failed, they kept performers and young talents with potential.
The big focus on bowling is the right move. Six specialist bowlers give options for every match situation. The all-rounders add extra depth. Pant and Pooran provide explosive batting.
But keeping players is only half the job. The mini auction will decide if LSG can truly bounce back. They need smart buys, not panic purchases. They need players who fit the team, not just big names.
Rishabh Pant now has better tools to work with. If LSG adds the right pieces at the auction, 2026 could be their comeback season. The foundation is strong. Now they need to build carefully on top of it.
FAQs
LSG kept 12 players because these are their best performers and biggest talents. This number gives them a strong core team but also leaves room to buy 6-7 more players at the mini auction. It’s the right balance – not too many players, not too few. This way, they have money to buy quality players for positions they need to strengthen.
Pant will remain captain. His numbers in 2025 were not great, but LSG believes in his potential. This was his first season as LSG captain – everyone needs time to adjust. He is young, talented, and can improve. The management has given him better players now. With this support, Pant can lead LSG to better results in 2026.
They kept 6 bowlers to make sure they have strong bowling in every match. Different bowlers work on different pitches. Injuries can happen. Having 6 quality bowlers means LSG always has options. Good bowling wins IPL titles, so this focus is smart.
It’s excellent planning. Both are top-quality wicket-keeper batters who can win matches. They give LSG flexibility – one can keep wickets while the other focuses only on batting. Both can play together, giving double explosive power. Having two match-winners instead of one makes the team much stronger. This combination can destroy any bowling attack.
LSG needs an opening batter who can partner with Pant or Markram. They need 1-2 middle-order batters for stability. One more death-over bowling specialist would help. Most importantly, they should target Indian players because they already have 4 foreigners. LSG should look for consistent performers, not just big names. Smart buys will complete their team perfectly.
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