3 Lucknow Super Giants players who might be benched in IPL 2026

Lucknow Super Giants enter this season sporting a complete rebrand and visual overhaul. Rishabh Pant’s men will be hoping that their new colours will bring about new fortunes for the franchise after a dismal seventh-placed finish in the previous season. The 2026 season saw LSG add reinforcements to their ranks after signing experienced pacer Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar in the trade window. 

The fitness concerns surrounding spinner Wanindu Hasaranga still persist, but despite that, the Lucknow-based franchise looks to have secure depth in its dressing room. With the versatility at their disposal, there might be few players who might struggle to find game time for the Lucknow team in IPL 2026.

Here are 3 LSG players who could be benched for whole IPL 2026:

3. Josh Inglis

Despite citing availability concerns, Josh Inglis was signed by the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2026 auction for a substantial fee of INR 8.60 crore. Inglis is a true modern-era white-ball batter. Innovative with scoops and ramps, muscling the ball away at will, taking on spinners with ease, and with scoring shots all around the ground, he has become one of Australia’s mainstays in the white-ball game.

At LSG though, he might find it difficult to break into the team, with an already settled batting lineup. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh were at their destructive best at the top, with the latter having an impressive season, scoring 627 runs in 13 matches. Behind them, Nicholas Pooran holds a key role in the batting line-up as an enforcer, putting pressure back on the bowler. With an overseas bowler, mostly Anrich Nortje expected to play, this leaves no room for Inglis.

2. Prince Yadav

Prince Yadav was signed after performances in the Delhi Premier League led to him becoming a regular feature for the Delhi white-ball teams. Learning his trade bowling with the tennis ball, Prince has developed into an accurate yorker specialist. Making his debut for LSG last season, his three wickets in the season came from yorkers, including that of the dangerous Travis Head.

With the addition of Mohammed Shami and with Mohsin Khan slated to return for Lucknow, it might be difficult for Prince to find gametime for LSG. Also in their ranks are Avesh Khan and the exciting Mayank Yadav, who stand above Prince in the pecking order.

1. Arjun Tendulkar

It came as a surprise when Arjun Tendulkar was traded in from the Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction. Arjun was thought to be a mainstay, but a move away could be a beneficial one, keeping him away from the limelight and the glamour that follows his lineage at Mumbai. But at Lucknow, he finds himself in a tricky situation.

Despite being a reliable presence for Goa in all three formats in the domestic circle, Arjun finds himself lower in the pecking order at Lucknow, with the depth of Indian pace-bowling options at the franchise’s disposal. While his left-arm angle and added batting could be a difference point, the return of Mohsin Khan, a player the franchise have constantly backed despite injury, would mean Arjun finds it difficult to find a place in IPL 2026.