‘No identity within the team’: Former India batsman slams LSG, questions team’s direction

former indian batsman Abhinav Mukund He raised questions over Lucknow Super Giants’ direction and team structure after their loss to Delhi Capitals, stating that there is no clarity on how the team will perform in IPL 2026. Aided by Sameer Rizvi’s unbeaten 70 and his decisive partnership of 119 with Tristan Stubbs, Delhi beat LSG at the Ekana Stadium with a convincing 6-wicket win to win the match. Mukund admitted that he is still not convinced about Lucknow’s identity as a team, especially compared to other relatively new teams. “I’m very unsure about LSG. They are a very young team in the IPL. The same goes for the Gujarati Titans, who are slowly building their identity. They may have lost their first game (in 2026), but you know what the Gujarat Titans will come up with one day. “They are top-heavy. They rely on the bowlers. They rely on the experience of the middle-spinners. In Lucknow, you always felt there was no identity within the team,” he told ESPNCricinfo. He went on to highlight what he saw as the key differences between the two sides. While the Gujarat Titans have established a clear approach around their bowling power and spin resources, Mukund feels Lucknow still lacks a clear style of play. According to him, LSG’s performance often depends on individual moments of glory rather than a structured system. “You expect performance from the top, you expect bursts of performance like Mark Wood sometimes coming in and picking up five wickets. You want these individual strong performances to carry your team. Lucknow has always been like this. “ Mukunde also expressed concerns over the team balance and selection decisions in the game. “Even today, I feel the balance of the team is pretty good, with seven batsmen and four bowlers. Then you have to sacrifice what you did last season. I know he might not have a great domestic season. He didn’t get wickets. “He has had a poor season at home, but that doesn’t mean you have released Ravi Bishnoi, it means you have faith in Digwish Rathi and say ‘OK, you are my number one spinner, you are not going to field him in the first game,'” he pointed out. With LSG already facing questions after their first loss, Mukund’s comments underscore growing concerns about the team’s balance, draft clarity and overall identity as the season begins.