Expected roles vs actual returns: While players like Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis held their end up brilliantly at the top, the rest of the overseas hitting core vanished when most needed. Nicholas Pooran, usually an apex predator in the middle overs, suffered a catastrophic drop in form with 234 runs in 14 games with an alarming average of 18, epitomised by his 2-ball duck against Punjab in the final game.
No return from lower order: LSG spent massive money on impact players who repeatedly failed to build on strong powerplay platforms, regularly exposing an under-equipped lower order.
Inconsistency of Indian core marred the campaign
LSG’s season was plagued by wild momentum swings, but it was bookended by absolute collapses and under-firing domestic stars such as Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, and Shardul Thakur.
They failed to string together consecutive wins, losing any momentum they built.
Can Rishabh Pant lead the next era?
This is the 27-crore question. Pant’s tactical choices under pressure and his personal form drop suggest that the burden of captaincy, coupled with his price tag, severely hindered his natural flair. While he remains a generational talent, management must decide if they need to unburden him by bringing in a different leadership voice or shifting tactical control to the coaching staff.
How LSG can become a contender in 2027
With 2027 serving as the crucial bridge year before the massive 2028 Mega Auction, LSG’s path forward requires precise, targeted adjustments:
Fix the middle-order engine: Target reliable, spin-dominant domestic batters via the mini-auction or trade windows to stop the middle-overs collapses.
Rebuild the spin philosophy: Recapturing a high-quality wrist-spinner or a mystery option to fill the Hasaranga void is non-negotiable if they want to make Ekana a fortress again.
Shed underperforming baggage: Free up luxury purse space by making cutthroat decisions on highly paid international stars who failed to provide tangible returns.