The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have finally received a timely boost in what has been a frustrating IPL 2026 campaign so far. Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has linked up with the squad and has already begun training ahead of their crucial clash against Mumbai Indians on May 4.
While there has been no official confirmation from the franchise yet, multiple reports suggest that Inglis is available for selection. His arrival comes at a time when LSG are struggling badly, sitting near the bottom of the table with just two wins in eight matches.
Why Inglis could be a game-changer for LSG
Inglis had informed the franchise earlier that he would miss the initial phase of the tournament due to his wedding commitments. He got married on April 18 in Western Australia and has now joined the squad at a point where LSG’s season is hanging by a thread.
LSG’s biggest issue this season has been their underperforming batting unit. Last year, the troika of overseas players carried LSG. This time, they are almost non-existent. On top of that, Rishabh Pant has been ordinary as well. Nicholas Pooran, who was their standout performer last year, has averaged just 10.25 this season. Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh have not quite delivered either.
Meanwhile, this is where Inglis fits in perfectly. He is naturally aggressive, especially in the middle overs, and can slot in at No. 3 or 4. LSG desperately need him. However, Inglis’ arrival also coincides with Matthew Breetzke leaving the squad due to personal reasons. As per ESPNcricinfo, Breetzke returned to South Africa following a bereavement in his family. There is no clarity yet on whether he will return later in the tournament.
As for Inglis, there is no official word on how many matches he will be available for. For now, he is expected to be part of the squad at least for the immediate fixtures, starting with the game against MI.
Best strike rates at No. 3
| Player | Inns | Runs | Average | Balls | Strike Rate | 50s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Pooran (LSG) | 12 | 466 | 46.6 | 231 | 201.73 | 5 | 39 |
| Jos Inglis (PBKS) | 6 | 216 | 36.00 | 119 | 181.51 | 1 | 15 |
| Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) | 10 | 360 | 51.42 | 199 | 180.90 | 4 | 25 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (MI) | 5 | 246 | 82.00 | 140 | 175.71 | 2 | 15 |
Despite playing just six innings, Inglis had one of the best strike rates in the tournament at No. 3. That ability to take the game on early is exactly what LSG have been missing. Punjab took a punt on him and demoted captain Shreyas Iyer at four to free up Inglis at one down. With this, Iyer hammered spin at four, while Inglis mercilessly attacked pace, most often coming inside the powerplay. The same strategy has been adopted by PBKS again, with Cooper Connolly filling in Inglis’ void.
Inglis’ IPL 2025 stats
| Inns | Runs | Average | Balls | Strike Rate | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 278 | 30.88 | 171 | 162.57 | 1 | 26 | 16 |
LSG remaining IPL 2026 fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| May 4 | vs Mumbai Indians | Mumbai |
| May 7 | vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lucknow |
| May 10 | vs Chennai Super Kings | Chennai |
| May 15 | vs Chennai Super Kings | Lucknow |
| May 19 | vs Rajasthan Royals | Jaipur |
| May 23 | vs Punjab Kings | Lucknow |
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