Identity comes with the trophy, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has a clear message for the team ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Last season, the team started its season on a good note, which it could not sustain for a long time. As a result, the team was knocked out of the title race even reaching the playoffs.
For the 2026 Indian Premier League, the team invested most of the purse to rebuild its bowling arsenal. Goenka mentioned that their previous season was mostly damaged because of multiple injuries. But, they concluded the season with some positivity as well.
Identity is still evolving: Sanjiv Goenka, LSG boss
Speaking on JioStar, the LSG owner claimed that the team is still in an evolving stage. So until the team wins the IPL trophy, LSG may not receive the similar respect or affection that a champion team gets after hoisting the trophy.
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“I think the true identity is still evolving. For any sports team, until you win, you don’t receive the same level of respect or affection that comes with lifting the trophy. Yes, we’ve made the playoffs twice, but that’s clearly not good enough. You win some, you lose some, but we have to win our first trophy,” Sanjiv Goenka said.
Goenka wants to see the team performing as a unit
LSG boss further tells that their last year’s performance was more on an individual basis than as a unit. This season, he wishes to see a team game on the ground.
“You can always improve, aspire to do better, there’s no end to improving. But at the end of the day, this is a squad that has everything required. Now it’s about coming together and performing as a unit, rather than as individuals. Last year, there were too many individuals performing. This year, we want to perform as a team,” he added.
A few positive takeaways from the IPL 2025 season
The opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram proved to be a hit for LSG in 2025. As an opener, Marsh 627 runs in 13 matches, and his opening partner got 445 runs in 13 matches. On the bowling front, it was the emerging spinner Digvesh Rathi who emerged as the highest wicket-taker for the team, claiming 14 wickets in 13 matches.
“The positive was that we won four of our first six games despite most of our frontline bowlers being injured. There were some bold moves, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening, which isn’t their usual position, and it turned out to be their best IPL season for both of them,” the LSG boss mentioned.
“Digvesh Rathi came in as a complete newcomer and did well for us. However, we did realise that we lacked a strong bowling core, and we’ve consciously addressed that by building a domestic Indian bowling unit this time. We’re happy with what we have,” he added.
The team, led by Rishabh Pant, will start its IPL 2026 journey on April 1. Their opening match will be against the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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