IPL 2026 auction unfolded with intense bidding wars, reshaping team lineups as franchises vied for top talent to chase glory in the upcoming season. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) emerged as aggressive spenders, exhausting nearly their entire ₹120.45 crore purse to assemble a 25-player squad featuring explosive batters and lethal pacers. Rishabh Pant commanded a record ₹27 crore as LSG’s marquee signing, while Josh Inglis fetched ₹8.60 crore, highlighting the franchise’s focus on dynamic wicketkeeper-batters to anchor their campaign.​

Lucknow Super Giant’s bold auction strategy and surprising pick

Lucknow Super Giants stunned observers by splashing ₹8.60 crore on Australian wicketkeeper-batter Inglis, outbidding Sunrisers Hyderabad in a fierce contest despite his confirmed 25% availability—limited to just four matches due to international duties and a wedding. Released by Punjab Kings post-IPL 2025, Inglis’s explosive T20 form, including rapid ODI centuries, justified the gamble as a middle-order firepower boost alongside Nicholas Pooran. Another shocker came with uncapped wicketkeeper Mukul Choudhary, secured for ₹2.60 crore after edging Mumbai Indians in a bidding war from a ₹30 lakh base, signalling faith in domestic upside.​

LSG smartly snapped Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje at base ₹2 crore each, addressing spin and pace voids post-Ravi Bishnoi’s release—Hasaranga’s mystery spin pairs with Nortje’s express bounce for death-over dominance. Uncapped talents like Akshat Raghuwanshi (₹2.20 crore) and Naman Tiwari (₹1 crore) added depth at bargain rates, completing six auction buys to fill slots efficiently. With ₹4.55 crore left unspent, LSG prioritized quality over quantity, blending retained firepower with targeted reinforcements.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete list of sold players with their price

Salaries of LSG Players in IPL 2026

Pant commanded the highest salary at ₹27 crore, matching his IPL 2025 mega-auction record and cementing his role as aggressive captain-wicketkeeper after a stellar injury comeback. Nicholas Pooran followed at ₹21 crore, the explosive finisher retained for his middle-order mayhem and glovework backup. Pace spearhead Mayank Yadav earned ₹11 crore for raw speed, while Mohammed Shami‘s ₹10 crore trade-in brings veteran swing guile.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Full list of unsold players along with their base price

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