Indian Premier League (IPL) is building as the 2026 season approaches, and fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting edition of the world’s most popular T20 franchise tournament. The new season is scheduled to begin on March 28, bringing together top international stars and emerging Indian talent in what promises to be an intense competitive campaign.

Every IPL season holds huge expectations not only for the teams but also for the star players who shoulder the leadership responsibilities. With franchises building powerful teams and fine-tuning their strategies, discussions around team combinations and batting order have already gained momentum. former indian batsman Suresh Raina recently shared that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) How should India structure their batting order, especially their captain Rishabh Pant Regarding the role of.

Suresh Raina picks batting order for Rishabh Pant in LSG lineup

During a discussion on Star Sports, Raina suggested that Lucknow should consider moving Pant higher up the batting order to maximize his effectiveness. According to the former Chennai Super Kings star, Pant can be more effective when batting at No. 3, rather than lower down the order.

Raina pointed out that if wickets fall early, LSG’s middle order may struggle, especially while chasing high scores. To avoid a collapse and maintain momentum, he proposed a slightly rearranged batting order.

“If four batsmen are out, there is a kind of movement down the order. Abdul Samad has come after winning the Ranji Trophy, but when you are chasing 210 or 220, I think they have to make a bit of a change there. Bring in Rishabh Pant at No. 3 and play Nicholas Pooran at No. 4. Abdul Samad is at No. 5, and you have to fit Ayush Badoni in the middle. You have Shahbaz Ahmed. He is a left-arm spinner who also bats very well,” Raina said.

Raina further added that if the openers do not provide a strong start, the role of Pant and Nicholas Pooran will be crucial. He also expressed confidence that the LSG captain can adopt a more aggressive approach this season.

“They don’t have any heavy hitters from No. 5 to No. 8. I think if the top two players are out, the role of Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran will be very important. They will have to justify their captaincy this time. I think Rishabh will do things a little differently this season and be more fearless this year,” Raina added.

Star studded team ready for big challenge

LSG is entering IPL 2026 with a strong squad and renewed ambitions, after a disappointing campaign last season. The franchise finished seventh in IPL 2025 and missed the playoffs, prompting them to reshape their squad for the upcoming tournament.

Pant will lead the team as captain after being retained for ₹27 crore, making him one of the most valuable players in the league. strategic advisor to the team kane williamson whose experience is expected to help shape the team’s strategic vision.

LSG’s biggest strength is their fast bowling, which could be one of the fastest bowling units in IPL history. in this lineup Mayank Yadav international stars with the exciting pace of unrich nortje And mohammed shami Are included.

Their batting unit is equally strong, with aiden markram And Mitchell Marsh Like the big hitters are with Puran. meanwhile, Vanindu Hasaranga Adds quality spin and valuable lower-order batting.

Despite the star power, questions remain about the injury history of some key fast bowlers and the lack of experienced finishers in the lower middle order. Lucknow makes its IPL 2026 debut Delhi Capitals on April 1, hoping that their high-risk, high-reward strategy can eventually earn them a maiden IPL title.