With the IPL 2026 campaign nearing the halfway stage, Lucknow Super Giants are still searching for a batting template that consistently works. On Sunday in New Chandigarh, the franchise tried yet another reshuffle at the top and paid for it, falling to Punjab Kings by 54 runs—marking their fourth defeat of the season and leaving them eighth on the table.
Key takeaways
- Lucknow Super Giants suffered a 54-run loss to Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh.
- The defeat was LSG’s fourth of the IPL 2026 season, keeping them in eighth place.
- In six matches, LSG have already used three different opening combinations.
- Against Punjab, Ayush Badoni was promoted to open, while Aiden Markram was moved down the order to No. 5.
- Lucknow’s momentum dipped heavily between 7.5 and 10 overs, with no boundaries struck in that span.
Another top-order experiment fails
Across their first six outings, Lucknow have tested three different opening pairings. Four times, they went with the familiar duo of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh—an approach that also brought success for the franchise last season. But in two matches, the team’s management chose to make surprise changes.
In their season opener, captain Rishabh Pant surprised many by walking out as an opener alongside Marsh. This time versus Punjab, the decision shifted again, with the franchise opting to hand the opening slot to Ayush Badoni instead.
That marked just the second time Badoni has opened in IPL cricket for the franchise, the earlier instance having come in 2023. Even so, the role has some precedent for him from the domestic circuit, where he has previously opened in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Badoni’s start, but Punjab control the chase
Following Punjab’s imposing total of 255, Lucknow needed a strong start and got one—Badoni made 35 off 21 balls and helped stitch together a 61-run opening partnership with Marsh during the powerplay. The quick tempo, however, did not translate into sustained acceleration as Punjab Kings kept the scoring rate under pressure and prevented Lucknow from getting fully into the chase.
After the match, Pant made it clear the batting reshuffle was not a last-minute reaction. He said the plan to open was decided in advance and that the idea was to create more freedom at the top, while allowing the middle order to contribute later.
“I think the idea was to just go out there and play freely. It wasn’t taken just today. It was pre-decided that he’s going to open. It was just something we kept inside. We wanted some freedom at the top, and just (the) middle order wanted to chip in,” Pant said after the defeat.
Markram’s drop to No. 5 and the turning point
The shake-up didn’t stop at the opening slot. With Badoni pushed up, Markram—who is an experienced opener in T20 cricket—was moved to an unusual No. 5 position. He responded with a quick 42 off 22 deliveries, adding momentum and doing his part to keep Lucknow within range.
Still, the biggest setback came during a critical stretch between the 8th and 10th overs. From 7.5 overs until the end of the 10th, Lucknow failed to hit a single boundary as Pant and Marsh put together a 48-run stand. The inability to gather pace meant the required rate climbed beyond 15 runs per over, and once that threshold was crossed, the chase became significantly harder to manage.
No single scapegoat as Lucknow look ahead
Despite the loss, Pant declined to blame one specific aspect of the performance. He pointed to a balance of positives and concerns, noting that the bowlers had done well while also acknowledging there were areas that needed improvement with the overall outcome.
“It’s difficult to point out one area. The bowlers have done well. There have been areas of concern, but also some positivity with the batting,” he said.
Lucknow Super Giants will now turn their attention to their next assignment, taking on the Rajasthan Royals at home on April 22. The match is another opportunity for them to iron out their combination issues and re-ignite their campaign after the setback to Punjab.
