May 5, 2026, 10:22 am
A blazing 63 off 21 balls from Nicholas Pooran and a 94-run stand with Mitchell Marsh powered Lucknow Super Giants to a daunting 228, their first 200-plus total in IPL 2026. But it still wasn’t enough. LSG slumped to their sixth straight defeat as Mumbai Indians chased it down with ease, exposing deeper flaws. What should have been a momentum-shifting performance instead turned into another crushing loss, leaving LSG with just four points from nine games, and virtually out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.
Only exception: 2019 – Sunrisers Hyderabad qualified with 12 points, the only instance of a team qualifying with more losses than wins.In most seasons, 7 wins keeps you alive, 8 wins puts you in control.
Simply put: 5 wins from 5 games. One more loss and they are almost out.
LSG are in free fall. Their last five results read: L, L, L, L, L. A prolonged losing streak with no signs of recovery. What’s more concerning is the nature of defeats. Even when their batting fires, like the 228 against MI, the team fails to close games. Earlier losses were marked by batting collapses, but now even strong totals aren’t enough.
LSG’s biggest issue isn’t just poor form, but it’s their inability to finish matches they should be winning. Against MI, they posted 228, yet lost with overs to spare. LSG have repeatedly failed to defend competitive totals or chase under pressure.Their bowling has lacked control at crucial phases. Despite taking wickets in clusters (4 wickets in 20 balls vs MI), they have failed to sustain pressure. Death overs, in particular, have been expensive and predictable.On the batting side, there has been overdependence on individual bursts. Pooran’s 63 came after a long lean run; Marsh has been inconsistent; and the middle order, including Rishabh Pant, hasn’t provided stability. And tactically, usage of Aiden Markram i nthe middle-order or Himmat singh, first as Impact sub and later as first choice player in the XI, have raised concerns through the season.
Lucknow Super Giants are not mathematically out, but realistically, they are unlikely to make the top four now. Five wins in five games is a near-impossible ask given their current form. Even their best performances haven’t translated into wins, and that sums up their season. LSG needs a perfect run and other results to go their way to have a miraculous recovery this IPL 2026 season.
