As the IPL 2026 season approaches, kicking off on March 28, only the first 20 matches have been scheduled, taking into account state elections. In anticipation of this prestigious tournament, Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), expressed his belief that securing the title is essential for the team to gain the respect it seeks.
“Our true identity is still being shaped. For any sports team, genuine respect and affection often come only with winning a trophy. While we’ve reached the playoffs twice, that’s simply not enough. Winning is part of the journey, but we must claim our first championship,” he stated during an interview on JioStar.
Goenka reflected on the positives from the last season, where LSG managed to win four of their first six matches despite facing significant injuries among their key bowlers. He noted the unexpected yet successful opening partnership of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, who performed exceptionally in roles they don’t usually occupy.
“The highlight was winning four out of our first six games, particularly with most of our frontline bowlers sidelined. We made some bold decisions, such as having Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh open the innings, which turned out to be their best IPL season yet. We also saw promising performances from newcomers like Digvesh Rathi. However, we recognized our need for a stronger bowling unit, and we’ve taken steps to build a solid domestic Indian bowling core this year. We’re optimistic about our squad,” Goenka added.
He further emphasized that LSG’s lineup for IPL 2026 is well-rounded, and the focus is on collective performance rather than individual accolades.
“Improvement is always possible, and there’s no limit to how much better we can get. This squad has all the essentials; now it’s about uniting and performing as a cohesive team. Last season, we saw too many standout individual performances. This year, our goal is to operate as a unit,” he remarked.
LSG will kick off their IPL 2026 journey by facing the Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 1 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
(With contributions from ANI)