Nobody expected Lucknow Super Giants to be this far off the pace. Coming into IPL 2026, Rishabh Pant was confirmed as captain, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram were in the squad, and the bowling attack had Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje to call upon. On paper, this was a side that looked capable of reaching the playoffs. In reality, two wins from nine matches tells a very different story.

One of the recurring themes of LSG's season has been the constant tinkering with their batting lineup. No two games have looked the same in terms of who bats where, and that inconsistency has made it difficult for any batter to find real rhythm. Pant himself has rarely looked comfortable at the crease, and Markram's stint at the top of the order was eventually abandoned as the team kept searching for the right combination. You cannot build confidence when the structure changes every week.

The bowling attack has shown glimpses. Prince Yadav finished four consecutive matches with economy rates under 7.5, and Mohsin Khan has been effective in the powerplay. But the death bowling has been a serious problem. Conceding 228 to Mumbai Indians and then watching them chase it down is the perfect summary of a team that can look threatening in isolation but falls apart when the game is on the line.

With the playoffs effectively out of reach, the remaining games give LSG a chance to try things properly. Playing younger or fringe players without the pressure of must-win cricket might be exactly what they need to learn something useful for next season. Pant is too good a captain and batter to keep producing these kinds of results, and the team will be determined to understand what went wrong before the next campaign.