Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had a sub-par season in IPL 2025, as they finished 7th on the points table with just 6 wins from 14 matches. Rishabh Pant and co. struggled to find balance in their line-up, especially in the pace department which was left depleted due to multiple injuries. While they did have some positives in terms of batting – Mitchell Marsh firing at the top with Markram, captain Pant finding his touch a little too late, Pooran’s consistency – and a gem of a find in the form of Digvesh Rathi with the ball, the team will have to make some changes before IPL 2026.
November 15 is the deadline for teams to decide on their retentions and releases before IPL 2026. A mini-auction will then follow and is scheduled to be held in the December 13-15 window. In order to bounce back in the next season, LSG may have to take some hard calls and release some players. Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, let’s take a look at some of the players LSG can let go of.
LSG release list for IPL 2026
1. Mayank Yadav
The injury-prone pacer once again broke down during IPL 2025, failing to finish the season yet again. After missing the first half of the tournament, Yadav returned to action in the clash against MI. However, he lasted just for 2 matches before he was injured again. LSG made a big blunder by retaining the player and placing too much faith in him. It makes all sense for LSG to release Mayank ahead of the next season and look for more sustainable bowling options instead.
2. David Miller
Killer Miller failed to live up to his reputation of being a destructive finisher in IPL 2025. Moving to LSG in IPL 2025, the South African managed to score just 153 runs in 11 matches, at a strike rate of 127.49. He averaged 30.60, with a highest score of just 27 runs. He was more of a liability for LSG and put extreme pressure on the middle-order.
3. Arshin Kulkarni
The 20-year-old with warmed the bench throughout IPL 2025 despite having immense all-round potential. In 2024, he played just 2 games for LSG. The team could rather release him and allow him to find another team who could utilize his potential more efficiently.
4. Shamar Joseph
The Caribbean pacer was the only overseas bowler that LSG had before they named William O’Rourke as an injury replacement. However, Joseph never got a game in IPL 2025. What is startling is that LSG did not consider Shamar even though they faced multiple setbacks in their bowling department in the form of injuries. Like Kulkarni, LSG should rather release Shamar instead of wasting his talent.
