After finishing seventh in their last two Indian Premier League (IPL) campaigns, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) would want to return to their previous good form which saw them qualify for the playoffs in the first two seasons.
The Super Giants have a squad with a core of hard-hitting overseas batters and experienced Indian bowling. With the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ayushi Badoni and Abdul Samad, the Lucknow-based outfit look set to have a great 2026 season. Among the latest additions to the IPL, the Super Giants are yet another side that will need its overseas stars to come good should they hold any chance of winning their maiden IPL crown.
Here are the best four overseas players within the LSG squad:
4. Wanindu Hasaranga (Spin-bowling all-rounder)
In a bit of a shrewd move, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) picked up Wanindu Hasaranga for his base price of INR 2 crore at the most recent mini-auction. The Sri Lanka star could be the unsung hero for LSG during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
The Ekana International Stadium, home of the Lucknow side, is widely known to have a pitch which best suits the spinners which produces some exciting low-scoring games. This is the kind of track where Hasaranga could excel for his new side.
The 27-year-old has taken 46 wickets over the course of his IPL career. This included a tally of 26 scalps during the 2022 season where he finished second in the Purple Cap race.
3. Mitchell Marsh (Batting all-rounder)
A lot of opening hopes from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) supporters will be on Mitchell Marsh once again. The Australia international top-scored for LSG in 2025 with 627 runs at a strike rate of well above 160. It happened to be his most productive season in his IPL career.
Marsh comes into the tournament on the back of a few decent knocks under his belt. The 34-year-old played just two games at the recently concluded T20 World Cup but scored half-centuries in both of those outings. Marsh’s experience and leadership within the dressing room would hold importance as his side looks to qualify for the playoffs this time around.
2. Aiden Markram (Batting all-rounder)
Aiden Markram had a great debut campaign with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year, where he scored 445 runs with a strike rate of just under 150. The South African star would once again play a crucial role for LSG while batting in the top order.
Markram enters the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a great 2026 T20 World Cup, having scored 286 runs at a strike rate of 165.31. Though he does not bowl a lot, the Proteas cricketer’s off-breaks could be useful for LSG in certain situations, particularly on those tricky pitches at Ekana Stadium, their home ground.
1. Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper-batter)
Once again, the overseas top-order core at the LSG will play a vital role in their chances at the upcoming season of the marquee event. Despite an underwhelming SA20 for MI Cape Town, Nicholas Pooran would still hold the key for LSG and is expected to play a huge part in the franchise that is currently eyeing its first-ever IPL title.
Last season, Pooran scored 524 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 196. The former West Indies star holds the rare ability to score quickly within the middle overs, where the scoring tends to slow down a little. With Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Pooran in their top three, LSG possess one of the most feared top order at the 2026 IPL with the likes of captain Rishabh Pant to follow suit.
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