Sanjiv Goenka Aims for IPL Glory with Lucknow Super Giants in 2026
Goenka's Vision for LSG
Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has made it clear that merely reaching the playoffs is insufficient for earning genuine respect. He emphasized the necessity of winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy as they prepare for the 2026 season.
In a discussion on JioStar, Goenka stated that LSG is still in the process of establishing its identity, asserting that true recognition is only achieved through winning titles. While making playoff appearances is commendable, he believes that the team must secure their inaugural trophy. He remarked, "The true identity is still evolving. For any sports team, until you win, you don't receive the same level of respect or affection that comes with lifting the trophy. Yes, we've made the playoffs twice, but that's clearly not good enough. You win some, you lose some, but we have to win our first trophy."
Reflecting on 2025 and Strengthening the Bowling Lineup
Goenka also reflected on the previous season, noting that LSG managed to win four out of their first six matches despite facing injuries to key bowlers during the IPL 2025 season. He highlighted successful strategies, such as promoting Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh as openers, who scored 445 and 627 runs respectively in 13 matches. Additionally, Digvesh Rathi emerged as the franchise's leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in 13 matches.
He acknowledged the previous season's lack of a robust bowling core and mentioned that the team is now focused on enhancing this aspect with a strong domestic Indian bowling unit. "The positive was that we won four of our first six games despite most of our frontline bowlers being injured. There were some bold moves, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening, which isn't their usual position, and it turned out to be their best IPL season for both of them. Digvesh Rathi came in as a complete newcomer and did well for us. However, we did realize that we lacked a strong bowling core, and we've consciously addressed that by building a domestic Indian bowling unit this time. We're happy with what we have," Goenka stated.
Goenka's Message for the 2026 Squad
The LSG owner conveyed that the IPL 2026 squad possesses all the necessary components for success, emphasizing the importance of teamwork over individual performances. He stated, "You can always improve, aspire to do better; there's no end to improving. But at the end of the day, this is a squad that has everything required. Now it's about coming together and performing as a unit, rather than as individuals. Last year, there were too many individuals performing. This year, we want to perform as a team."
LSG's IPL 2026 Schedule and Squad
The Rishabh Pant-led LSG will kick off their IPL 2026 journey against the Delhi Capitals on April 1. Their subsequent matches include facing the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5, the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9, and the Gujarat Titans on April 12 during the tournament's initial phase. It's important to note that the BCCI has only released the schedule for the first phase of the 2026 IPL edition, which will take place from March 28 to April 12. The defending champions, RCB, will open the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Lucknow Super Giants squad for IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant (captain), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan.