Lucknow Super Giants hit rock bottom. The 2026 Indian Premier League campaign ended in absolute disaster for the franchise. They managed to win just four
out of 14 matches during the league stage. Eight points left them dead last, finishing 10th in the standings.
Rebuilding a broken squad requires a brutal financial purge. Management must part ways with multiple high-profile names who completely failed to justify their massive price tags. Here are five names LSG may discard ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
Mohsin Khan (₹4 Crore)
Left-arm pacers usually provide a unique edge. Mohsin Khan simply provided extreme inconsistency. His 2026 season swung violently between brilliant and disastrous.
The domestic seamer claimed 11 wickets across 7 matches. He delivered a sensational 5/23 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Those bright spots vanished during the death overs. He leaked runs horribly under pressure, finishing the campaign with a bloated economy rate of 8.14 and a bowling average of 20.73. He conceded 48 runs in his final appearance against the Punjab Kings. The franchise cannot afford a wildly unpredictable domestic spearhead.
Nicholas Pooran (₹21 Crore)
Franchises expect pure match-winning consistency for ₹21 crore. LSG retained Nicholas Pooran for that exact amount ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. He failed miserably to anchor the lineup.
The West Indies wicketkeeper-batter scraped together just 234 runs across 14 matches in the 2026 edition. His poor form and persistent inconsistency cost Lucknow multiple winnable games. Carrying a ₹21 crore passenger destroys tactical flexibility. The owners are highly likely to release him.
Mayank Yadav (₹11 Crore)
Raw pace requires physical durability. Mayank Yadav cannot stay fit. Retained for ₹11 crore ahead of the 2025 mega auction, the Indian speedster spent most of his time in the medical room.
He featured in a grand total of six matches across two entire seasons. He picked up exactly two wickets overall. Injury issues restricted him to two matches and two wickets in 2025. During the 2026 campaign, he played four times and went completely wicketless. Releasing him is a necessary financial correction.
Avesh Khan (₹9.75 Crore)
Lucknow bought Avesh Khan for ₹9.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Madhya Pradesh pacer leaked runs for fun.
He grabbed only six wickets in seven matches during the 2026 edition. His economy rate ballooned to a terrible 11.06. LSG already possess Prince Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohsin Khan in their fast-bowling ranks. Dumping Avesh makes perfect financial sense to arrange funds for fresh signings in the 2027 auction.
Anrich Nortje (₹2 Crore)
Overseas slots are pure gold. Wasting one on a benched fast bowler handcuffs the coaching staff. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje joined LSG for ₹2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. He stepped onto the pitch for exactly one match. He is a high-profile player currently on his way out of the setup.
