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After a seventh-place finish in IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi with Rs 22.95 crore in their purse and six slots to fill including four overseas. They have retained a strong core around captain Rishabh Pant, including Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and got some new trade like Mohammed Shami.
Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, LSG’s key gaps include a middle-order finisher after David Miller’s release, an overseas pacer, a frontline Indian spinner and all-rounder depth. Their strategy will focus on versatile, high-impact players to build a title-contending squad under coach Justin Langer. They will be keen to do better work in the upcoming Mini Auction. Let us look at 3 players they might target.
1.Saqib Mahmood
Saqib Mahmood was part of the title-winning Oval Invincibles unit, coached by Tom Moody, in 2024 and 2025. He has picked up a combined 14 wickets in 11 games across the two seasons at an average of under 19. Furthermore, Mahmood is enjoying his best year for England in 2025 with 14 wickets in nine matches across the two white-ball formats. With LSG apointing Tom Moody as director of Cricket of LSG, Saqib Mahmood may get a contract and will be a good option for LSG team.
2.Abhinav Manohar
Abhinav Manohar has played 27 matches in the IPL since his debut in 2022, scoring a total of 292 runs at an average of 15.36 so far. There is a strong possibility that Lucknow Super Giants will target and potentially secure Abhinav Manohar, a lower-middle-order Indian batter during the IPL 2026 auction. Abhinav’s role as a lower-middle-order batter and finisher makes him a good candidate to provide depth and balance to the LSG squad for the IPL 2026 season.
3.Rahul Chahar
They have release leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the next season and are seeking for a quality Indian spinner. One of the obvious choice would be leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, who has played for multiple franchises, has picked 75 wickets in 79 IPL matches with an economy of 7.72 so far. The spinner from Rajasthan has done well recently and he could be a good option for this LSG side.
