Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are going through a worrying phase in the ongoing IPL 2026, as their batting lineup is not doing well at all. The main concern is LSG’s top and middle order, as their inconsistent performances this season are hurting them badly.
Ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ big IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bengaluru on April 15, former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim has raised serious concerns about the team’s top-order and middle-order as they aim to make a strong comeback.
Lucknow Super Giants’ batting struggles continue in IPL 2026
The former Indian selector has pointed out that LSG may need to make an immediate change to their batting lineup to prevent a batting collapse later in the tournament. Actually, LSG have had a mixed season so far, with two wins and two losses, but their weakness was badly exposed in their last match.
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Lucknow Super Giants could only manage 164/8 and eventually lost the game to Gujarat Titans at home and this batting collapse once again raised questions about their top-order performance. Their biggest concern is the form of their Australian opener Mitchell Marsh.
Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran on target
Marsh has so far failed to give solid starts to LSG as he has scored only 75 runs in four innings. His lack of influence at the top has slowed down the team’s momentum. Along with him, middle-order batsman Nicholas Puran is also struggling badly.
It was expected that Puran would be the backbone of the middle order, but he has been able to score only 41 runs in four matches. Due to the struggles with the bat of these two overseas stars, LSG has failed to make any strong impact so far in the ongoing tournament and are placed seventh on the table with 4 points.
LSG urged to act fast as Saba Karim demands major changes to batting
Given the situation, Karim has suggested that LSG should try new options like Mathieu Bretzke. The former BCCI official believes that the Lucknow team should not wait too long for Marsh to return to form, as it could affect their chances in the ongoing tournament.
“I see a deeper problem here,” Saba Karim said on ESPN Cricinfo. “And I think the sooner they are able to address the issue, the better it will be for LSG. For example, Mitch Marsh – I was looking at his form in the T20 World Cup as well. Barring one or two innings where he looked very comfortable, otherwise he struggled with wickets, especially in Sri Lanka.
Pooran had to struggle in ILT20. Hence, these batting woes are affecting LSG very badly. And I think it’s time to replace him… Mitch Marsh is a big problem. Matthew Britzke as the opening batsman. I think it’s time to make this change.”
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Aaron Finch warns Lucknow Super Giants about their batting struggles in IPL 2026
Meanwhile, former Australia captain Aaron Finch also said that big players like Pooran have not been able to perform well and it is affecting the entire batting unit. He said that the LSG batsmen’s batting statistics are among the lowest in the competition, and they also lack consistency.
Finch said on the same show, “They can’t really get into rhythm at the top of the order. And then Pooran has been badly out of form. It’s a real concern because you’ve put your salary cap so high and you’ve put a lot of your resources into that position in the middle order, and he’s been shuffled around, and he needs to find some form.”
