Let’s face it—when your IPL campaign begins to feel like a dull experience on a flat pitch, it’s probably time to experiment! And that’s exactly where Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are parked right now. While the playoffs may be tenuous, there’s no reason for players to check out mentally, and it’s an ideal opportunity to try and error. LSG can finally give a few of their promising benchwarmers the chance to play with nothing to lose and everything to gain! If you’ve ever watched a game, frustrated shouted, Why isn’t that guy playing? This is your moment.
Time to Think Beyond the Present
LSG’s season has been like a Wi-Fi signal—strong one day, vanishing the next. They have shown some exceptional talent at times, but also have had long periods of mediocrity – there has been real strife when it comes to team balance. The batting order has been switched up more times than a Spotify playlist, and the bowling unit has not quite come together as a unit. This brings up the important point to discuss all-rounders and uncapped domestic talent.
As one commentator noted recently, this is where a franchise has to think in the long term. With the mega auction creeping up, teams are going to have some hard work to do when it comes time for their retentions. What better way to make those decisions than to see how the youth respond when faced with the pressure of replacing their seniors? Choosing to rest a couple of senior players minimizes their chances of injury and sends the message that performance is more important than seniority.
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Who Deserves a Look-In?
So, who should LSG truly back in their last few matches? He’s not flashy, but Shahbaz shows up like Wi-Fi in a power cut—reliable when nothing else is. He has had a good year with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, and he can offer LSG that all-important spin-bowling all-rounder that they have missed this season. Also, if we accept that Digvesh Rathi is unavailable, then the position virtually clears for Shahbaz.
Finally, the young all-rounder, Arshin Kulkarni, the newest kid on the block in our domestic game, has potential and probably most importantly, the temperament to handle big-stage pressure. And Rajvardhan Hangargekar? He hasn’t played in the IPL, but he has pure pace and can bang it in on impact. They may not be producing runs yet, but that experience will be positive.
If you were to consider an LSG playing XI with those three younger gentlemen and a few of the established boys, it would be a blend of future and now. These are the kinds of combinations that cannot just present something different, but also potentially discover a diamond or two as we look forward to next season.
A Test Lab, Not a Dead End
This part of the tournament doesn’t serve only as filler; it’s a laboratory. For LSG, this phase ought not to be about sneaking into the top four; it should be about redefining identity, constructing a bench with some real confidence, and making sure the think tank has the clarity it needs before next year’s upheaval.
Think about how some of today’s stars began their IPL careers in what were then termed “dead rubbers.” The teams that smartly used the back end of the season—Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, even KKR in their infancy—often discovered match-winners in the most unexpected games. LSG would do well to apply that play.
This is also a great opportunity to experiment with field leadership. How about testing out alternate captains? Under Pooran or Krunal, even the team huddles might come with subtitles.
The more pertinent question is: will LSG play it safe, or will they like to gamble and find their next big match-winner?
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