Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull has strongly criticized Lucknow Super Giants for their expensive signings in IPL 2026. His main focus was on captain Rishabh Pant and star batter Nicholas Pooran.
According to Doull, the team has spent a huge amount on these two players but has not received matching performances so far.
LSG’s Poor Start in IPL 2026
Lucknow Super Giants are struggling this season. They are currently placed ninth on the points table.
| Matches | Wins | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
The team’s top-order batting has not performed well, which has been one of the biggest reasons for their poor results.
Pant and Pooran Under Fire
Simon Doull pointed out that LSG spent around ₹50 crore on Pant and Pooran combined, but the impact has been very limited.
He said that Pant has only helped the team win one match with the bat, and apart from that, there has not been much contribution.
Player Performance Overview
| Player | Price | Runs (6 innings) | Average | Strike Rate | Performance Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | ₹27 crore | — | — | — | Helped win one match |
| Nicholas Pooran | ₹21 crore | 51 | 8.50 | 79.68 | Poor form, struggling |
Pooran’s numbers clearly show his struggle this season, while Pant has also not been consistent.
Also See : Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The Rising Batting Storm with Lightning-Fast Hands
Overseas Batters Creating Balance Issues
Doull also raised concerns about the team’s strategy of using too many overseas batters in the top order.
He mentioned players like:
While Markram has played a few decent innings, Marsh and Pooran have not delivered big performances.
According to Doull, this combination is hurting the team balance.
Frequent Changes in Batting Order
LSG has tried many opening combinations this season. Players like Pant, Marsh, Markram, Pooran, and Ayush Badoni have all been used at different positions.
Now, the team has decided to try Badoni as an opener to give him more freedom in batting.
This shows that the team is still searching for the right combination.
Lack of Clarity in Team Strategy
Doull believes that making too many changes early in the tournament shows confusion within the team.
He also compared LSG with other successful teams and said that most winning teams depend more on strong Indian batters rather than overseas-heavy top orders.
The IPL season is still in its early stage, so LSG still has time to improve. However, the pressure is now on Pant, Pooran, and the team management to fix the batting issues quickly.
Fans will be watching closely to see if the team can find the right balance and make a comeback in the upcoming matches.
