Players Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should release after IPL 2026 ft. Rishabh Pant

Lucknow Super Giants endured yet another miserable Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) campaign as the side finished at the rock-bottom of the points table. Rishabh Pant and co. were the second team to be knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoffs race. LSG managed to get just 4 wins from 14 matches in the season. While some of their batters such as Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Josh Inglis, and bowlers like Prince Yadav performed well in IPL 2026, the majority of the squad failed to perform. Here, we take a look at five players who should be released by LSG ahead of IPL 2027.

5 players who should be released by LSG

Rishabh Pant

After being bought for Rs 27 crore, Rishabh Pant has bee the most under-performing player for LSG over the last two seasons. In 2025, the southpaw scored 269 from 14 matches, averaging 24.25. In IPL 2026, he amassed 312 runs from 14 games, at a strike rate of 138.05. Pant has already stepped down as the LSG captain after a couple of poor seasons. It would be better for any other team to buy the southpaw for a lesser price.

Mayank Yadav

After being retained for Rs 11 crore in the IPK 2026 mini-auction, Yadav featured in just 4 games in the season. The injury-prone pacer, who took part in just two games in the previous season, did not get any wickets in 2026. In fact, he has never played a full season for LSG since making his IPL debut. It would be better for the franchise to release him ahead of IPL 2027. The Rs 11 crore could be invested in some other player instead.

Anrich Nortje

Another player who LSG can release in Nortje. Purchased for Rs 2 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, the South African featured in just one game in IPL 2026, where he conceded 24 runs and picked up 0 wickets. The Proteas pacer has a history of being injury-prone in the past, and last played a full IPL season in 2020/21. LSG could easily use the Rs 2 crore to buy another batter or pacer.

Nicholas Pooran

Pooran, who has retired from international cricket and is currently active only in franchise cricet, under-performed in IPL 2026. After being retained for a whoping Rs 21 crore in the mini-auction, the Caribbean batter managed to amass 234 runs in 14 matches this season. Despite being one of the best batters in the IPL, Pooran failed to deliver on the expectations this time around. As a result, LSG could release hhim, and then buy him back at a cheaper rate, for Rs 21 crore isn’t worth.

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