Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have now been officially eliminated from playoffs contention in IPL 2026. With just 3 wins in 11 matches, they have no more hopes of making it to the playoffs now.
Their loss to the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday meant that LSG were the first team to be eliminated from IPL 2026. They have now missed the boat to the top four in each of the last three IPL seasons.
Having been introduced in 2022, the Lucknow franchise made the playoffs in each of their first two years - 2022 and 2023 - before missing the top four for the first time in 2024. In 2025, LSG finished 7th on the points table after winning just 6 matches out of 14. Barring a miracle, they are set to finish even lower in 2026.
A poor performance like this, especially two seasons in a row, will undoubtedly inspire a rethink for LSG going into IPL 2027. With 2027 likely to be a mini-auction year, it remains to be seen what kind of rebuild the franchise can conjure.
In this article, we will go through the full list of players likely to be released by the franchise.
Key Points
- Lucknow Super Giants have been officially eliminated from IPL 2026 playoffs contention.
- LSG are likely to consider a major squad rebuild ahead of IPL 2027.
- Rishabh Pant’s poor captaincy and batting form have reportedly put his future under pressure.
- Players like Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, Arjun Tendulkar and George Linde could also face release.
Players likely to be released by LSG after IPL 2026
Rishabh Pant
During the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rishabh Pant was bought for a record-breaking Rs. 27 crore by the Lucknow franchise, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.
He was appointed the team's skipper, but neither his nor the team's fortunes have taken a turn for the better. Pant's performance as skipper has been outlined before, but his performance with the bat has not been anything to write home about.
In 2025, he made 269 runs in 14 matches at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133. And that included an innings of 118* against RCB in the last match.
In 2026, he has made 251 runs in 11 matches at a slightly better average of 27.89 and a strike rate of 138.67 with just 1 fifty.
The LSG management stuck by him despite the disaster in 2025, but two disasters in two years may make them look the other way. Even if he isn't released, the possibility of his remaining captain appears to be thinning every day.
Himmat Singh
Himmat Singh was bought by LSG in the 2025 mega auction for his base price of Rs. 30 lakhs. He has not made any real impact on the franchise so far in his two years.
Last year, he played 3 matches and did not get to bat or bowl. This year, he has made 92 runs in 6 matches at an average of 30.67 and a strike rate of 133. Himmat has been playing mostly as a finisher, so his inability to have a real impact may prompt LSG to look elsewhere next year.
Avesh Khan
Avesh was originally bought by LSG in the mega auction in 2022. Despite being uncapped, the team was ready to shell out Rs. 10 crore for him.
At the time, Avesh Khan had become the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history and is still in second place. After two years at LSG, he was traded away to the Rajasthan Royals in 2024. During the mega auction in 2025, LSG decided to buy him again, this time for Rs. 9.75 crore. Just like his team, Avesh did not have a good season at all.
In 2025, he took 13 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 37.46 and an economy rate of 10.28. In 2026, his performance has gone down on both metrics. A bowling average of 45.5 with an economy of around 11 runs an over has not made him a fan favourite. He has only played 7 matches this year and has taken just 6 wickets.
Being unable to recreate his good performances from 2021 and 2022, which earned him an India cap, might mean that LSG will likely move on from him. The presence of Mohammed Shami alongside the rise of Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan will also be a contributing factor in this decision.
Anrich Nortje
The South African pacer has had an extremely long history of dealing with serious injuries. Many a time, his injuries have had long-term effects on his ability to play cricket for long periods of time.
For IPL 2026, LSG signed Nortje for Rs. 2 crore, his base price. But he has once again been ruled out of IPL 2026 due to an injury. He could only play one match in the tournament before an unspecified injury ruled him out of the season.
In his one match, he conceded 39 runs in four overs at an economy of 9.75 and took no wickets. His history of injuries is likely to be a thorn in his side and might prod LSG to release him.
Arjun Tendulkar
Being the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's son, Arjun has had many eyes on him ever since he was a child. Unlike his illustrious father, Arjun Tendulkar is a left-arm fast bowler who can bat a little. Arjun spent many years as a net bowler for the Mumbai Indians before officially joining as a player in 2021. He stayed there until 2025, taking 3 wickets in 5 matches.
Before IPL 2026, Tendulkar Jr. was traded in from MI by the Lucknow Super Giants. Just like in 2025, LSG have not provided him with any game time in IPL 2026. With both rising and established stars like Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, and Prince Yadav among their ranks, LSG may decide to let Arjun go.
Mayank Yadav
Mayank Yadav originally joined LSG in 2022 but did not get a game that year. The next year, he was out injured and so had to wait till 2024 to actually play in the IPL.
On his debut, his figures of 3/14 earned him the Player of the Match award. He won the award in his second match as well, becoming the first player in IPL history to be named the POTM in his first two games.
An injury kept his first season to just 4 matches, where he took 7 wickets at a bowling average of 12 and an economy rate just under 7. These performances also earned him a T20I debut with India later that year.
For the 2025 mega auction, LSG retained him for Rs. 11 crore. But once again, injury kept him down to just 2 matches. In 2 matches, he took 2 wickets, at an average of 50 and an economy of 12.50.
In 2026, Mayank Yadav has been relatively injury-free but has lost his form. In 2 matches this year, he has taken no wickets and gone at an economy rate of more than 13 runs per over. With Shami, Mohsin, and Prince Yadav handling the pace attack, LSG will likely consider Mayank Yadav surplus to requirements.
George Linde
South African left-arm spinner George Linde got his first taste of the IPL in 2026 when he joined Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga. But, he hasn't lived up to the mark.
In 3 matches, Linde has taken just one wicket at a bowling average of 55 and an economy of 8.91. LSG have also moved to playing four overseas batters in their recent matches. When the retention deadline for IPL 2027 arrives, overseas player combination rules will force LSG to release at least one foreign player.
It cannot be definitively said right now whether Hasaranga will be available for 2027, but if they had to choose, LSG are most likely to stick to Hasaranga and let go of Linde.
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