Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) arrive at home on the back of a heist. Mukul Choudhary’s outrageous finish against KKR papered over a few cracks, but those questions haven’t gone anywhere. The top order still hasn’t clicked consistently like it did last year and the balance of the XI continues to feel a touch uneven.
Now they face Gujarat Titans, a side that has beaten LSG four times in seven games. On a sluggish Lucknow surface, LSG would love to get their combinations right. That brings one big question to the table. Do LSG stick with M Siddharth, or bring in George Linde to add depth? Linde has joined the camp already, having replaced Wanindu Hasaranga after the Sri Lankan was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Linde for balance? Pant has a call to make
At the moment, LSG’s lower order looks thin. Mohammed Shami at No. 8 gives you control with the ball, but not much with the bat. And with Mitchell Marsh not bowling in the IPL for the last two seasons, the all-round balance isn’t quite there.
That’s where George Linde becomes an option. He isn’t a headline signing, but he plugs a gap. Since 2025, he has scored 622 runs in T20s at a strike rate of 142.66. Those aren’t bits-and-pieces numbers. He can clear the ropes too; 40 sixes in that period tells you that. With the ball, he has a superb economy of 7.23 as well in that period.
If Linde comes in, it likely means M Siddharth makes way. You lose a specialist spinner but gain batting depth and a more rounded XI. On a pitch that is expected to slow down, Linde’s left-arm spin still gives Pant an option through the middle overs.
Predicted LSG Playing XI vs GT
| S. No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aiden Markram ✈️ |
| 2 | Mitchell Marsh ✈️ |
| 3 | Rishabh Pant (w/c) |
| 4 | Nicholas Pooran ✈️ |
| 5 | Ayush Badoni |
| 6 | Abdul Samad |
| 7 | Mukul Choudhary |
| 8 | George Linde ✈️/M Siddharth |
| 9 | Avesh Khan |
| 10 | Mohammed Shami |
| 11 | Prince Yadav |
| 12 (Impact Player) | Digvesh Singh Rathi |
Rishabh Pant got a fifty recently, but the pattern hasn’t changed much. The starts are slow. Against Gujarat, that could become a bigger issue, particularly against Rashid Khan. Pant has scored 120 runs off 107 balls against Rashid and has been dismissed three times. On a surface where the ball could grip, that matchup is going to be central to how LSG’s innings unfolds.
Top order still searching, Pooran under pressure
Nicholas Pooran is in a tougher spot. He has not crossed 17 in 10 of his last 11 T20 innings, and in IPL 2026, he is averaging just 7.33 after three games. For a player of his calibre, that’s a lean stretch. Add Kagiso Rabada into the mix, who has dismissed him three times in 28 balls, and the pressure only increases.
But LSG are unlikely to drop him. His upside is too high, especially on grounds where he can target spin. It might just take one innings.
At the top, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh remain key. Markram’s ability to handle spin will be crucial on this surface, while Marsh will once again be tasked with taking on the new ball. If he gets through the first couple of overs, he can change the tempo quickly.
Ayush Badoni continues to be LSG’s most reliable middle-overs batter. He reads situations well and doesn’t get flustered. Mukul Choudhary, after that knock in Kolkata, suddenly carries a different aura. Abdul Samad remains the enforcer. His role is clear. Finish games. But like a few others, he is still waiting for a defining contribution this season.
The bowling has been LSG’s strength so far, and that is unlikely to change.
Mohammed Shami has been exceptional in the powerplay, operating at an economy of 4.00 and picking up all his wickets in that phase. His battle with Shubman Gill will be one to watch. Gill averages over 54 against LSG and strikes at over 147, but Shami with the new ball is a different challenge. Avesh Khan brings a hard-length matchup into play. Gill has struggled to get him away, scoring 71 off 54 balls with four dismissals. That’s a contest LSG will look to exploit.
Prince Yadav has quietly become one of the finds of the season again. His control and variations have allowed LSG to keep more experienced names on the bench. Digvesh Rathi, as an Impact option, gives them flexibility, especially if the pitch grips more than expected.
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