Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are going through a worrying phase in the ongoing IPL 2026 as their batting lineup is not working at all. The main concern is LSG’s top and middle order as their inconsistent performances are seriously handicapping them this season.
Ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ big IPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (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 struggle continues in IPL 2026
The former Indian selector has pointed out that LSG may need urgent changes in their batting line-up to arrest the collapse of batting going forward in the tournament. Indeed, LSG have had a mixed season so far, with two wins and two losses, but their last match severely exposed their weaknesses.
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The Lucknow Super Giants could only manage 164/8 and eventually lost the game to the Gujarat Titans at home, and this batting collapse once again raised doubts about their top-notch performance. One of their biggest concerns is the form of their Australian opener Mitchell Marsh.
Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran under fire
So far, Marsh has failed to provide solid starts for LSG as he has only scored 75 runs in the four innings. His lack of impact at the top has slowed the team’s momentum. Along with him, middle-order batsman Nicholas Pooran has also been struggling a lot.
Pooran was expected to be the backbone of the middle order but managed only 41 runs in four matches. Due to the struggle of these two foreign stars with the bat, LSG has failed to make a big impact so far in the ongoing tournament and is 7th in the table with 4 points.
LSG urged to act fast as Saba Karim calls for big batting change
Given the situation, Karim has suggested that LSG should try new options like Matthew Breetzke. The former BCCI official believes that the Lucknow team should not wait too long for Marsh to return to fitness as it could affect their chances in the ongoing tournament.
Saba Karim said on ESPNCricinfo: “I am looking at a deeper issue here. And I think the quicker they can address this issue, the better it will be for LSG. For example, Mitch Marsh – I was watching his form even in the T20 World Cup. Except for one or two innings where he looked very comfortable, otherwise he struggled, especially in Sri Lanka, with wickets.
Pooran struggled in ILT20. So, these batting issues are affecting LSG very negatively. And I think it’s time they replaced… Mitch Marsh is a big problem. Matthew Breetzke as starter. “I think this is the time to make that 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 pointed out that big players like Pooran have not been able to deliver and it is affecting the entire batting unit. He noted that the batting statistics of LSG batsmen are the lowest in the competition and they also lacked consistency.
Finch said on the same show: “They can’t really get a rhythm at the top of the order. And then Pooran has been terribly out of form. That’s a real concern because you’ve put a lot of your salary cap and you’ve put a lot of your resources into that position in the middle order, and he’s been moved around, and he needs to find some form.”