'No identity within the team’: Ex-India batter blasts LSG, questions franchise direction
Abhinav Mukund has questioned Lucknow Super Giants' team structure and direction following their IPL 2026 defeat to Delhi Capitals. He highlighted a perceived lack of team identity compared to franchises like Gujarat Titans, suggesting LSG relies too heavily on individual brilliance rather than a defined playing style. Mukund also raised concerns about team balance and selection decisions.
Ex-India batter Abhinav Mukund has questioned the direction and team structure of Lucknow Super Giants after their defeat to Delhi Capitals, pointing to a lack of clarity in how the side is shaping up in IPL 2026. The criticism followed a convincing six-wicket win for Delhi, powered by Sameer Rizvi’s unbeaten 70 and his decisive 119-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, which took the game away from LSG at the Ekana Stadium. Mukund admitted he remains unconvinced about Lucknow’s identity as a team, especially when compared to other relatively new franchises.
"I'm very unsure about LSG. They are a very young side in the IPL. So are Gujarat Titans, who are slowly building an identity towards who they are.
They might have lost their first game (in 2026) but you know what Gujarat Titans will come up with on a certain day. "They are top-heavy. They rely on their bowlers.
They rely on their experience in the middle in terms of their spinners. With Lucknow, you always feel like there is no identity within the team,” he told ESPNCricinfo. He went on to highlight what he sees as a key difference between the two sides.