LSG Retains 19 Players, Trades for Shami Ahead of IPL 2026

Lucknow Super Giants, the Indian Premier League franchise based in Uttar Pradesh, announced their retained players and key trades on November 15, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, aiming to rebuild after a disappointing seventh-place finish in the 2025 season.

The team, led by captain Rishabh Pant, retained 19 players, focusing on a mix of experienced international stars and promising Indian talents to form a balanced core. Pant, acquired for a record INR 27 crore in the 2025 mega-auction, remains the centerpiece as wicketkeeper-batter and leader. Other high-profile retentions include wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran at INR 21 crore, fast bowler Mayank Yadav at INR 11 crore despite limited appearances last season due to injury, and pacer Avesh Khan at INR 9.75 crore. Overseas all-rounders Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh were kept for INR 2 crore and INR 3.4 crore, respectively, alongside uncapped Indian all-rounder Ayush Badoni at INR 4 crore and leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi at his base price of INR 30 lakh.

LSG also bolstered their squad through trades, acquiring veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad for his existing INR 10 crore contract and left-arm...