Aakash Chopra slams LSG’s ‘confused’ batting strategy after heavy PBKS loss
Published - 20 Apr 2026, 02:53 PM | Updated - 20 Apr 2026, 03:08 PM
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are going through a tough phase in the ongoing IPL 2026, and their 54-run loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 20 has only made things worse. After a heavy defeat against PBKS, Aakash Chopra has questioned LSG’s approach and strategy, especially batting.
The Lucknow Super Giants team looked completely confused with their batting order, and it cost them badly while chasing the massive target of 255 runs in New Chandigarh.
Aakash Chopra questions LSG's strategy after PBKS drubbling in IPL 2026
It was a high-scoring match as Punjab Kings posted a huge 254/7 and put Lucknow Super Giants under massive pressure from the start. Chasing the huge target, LSG made the big blunder by sending Ayush Badoni to open the innings against the PBKS.
Aakash Chopra has pointed out that the teams usually go all-out from the beginning, but LSG’s plan looked unclear. They were neither fully aggressive nor playing safe, and this confused approach made things worse as the required run rate kept climbing, and eventually, they bowled out for 200.
Chopra said in a video posted on YouTube, "Lucknow Super Giants, who prepared your batting order? It's like numbers were written behind a bat. I got a feeling like that because Ayush Badoni had opened just once before this. Why did you make him open? You were chasing 250 runs. If you are chasing 255, all your fighter planes and tanks should have been deployed at the start. Send your best batters. If something happens, it happens, or else you are losing in any case.”
Please make Aiden Markram bat at the top: Aakash Chopra
The former Indian batter has stressed that losing by such a big margin despite having wickets left does not make sense. He noted that this loss showed that Lucknow's approach was not right against the PBKS, as they neither went all-out nor tried to take the game deep properly.
The big and shocking call was dropping Aiden Markram down to the batting order. Despite coming to bat at number six, Markram played an aggressive knock of 42 off 22 balls, which showed that he could have made a bigger impact if he were allowed to continue as opener, felt Chopra.
Chopra noted, “They were neither here nor there, and it is disappointing. In my opinion, the batting order was completely haywire. They moved Markram down the order. They have done that for the second time in this tournament. Please make Markram bat at the top. He will do well there only. Would you penalize him for conceding 32 runs in an over?”
Poor form and predictable moments hurt LSG
Furthermore, the commentator was not happy with the captain Rishabh Pant’s performance despite scoring 43 runs off 23 balls while batting at number three against the Punjab Kings. Chopra also highlighted how Nicholas Pooran is going through a “woeful form” with the bat.
Chopra also mentioned that things looked quite predictable during the chase. Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Mitchell Marsh at a key moment, and after that, the game slipped completely away from LSG without any strong fightback. He demands better performance from Marsh.
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