IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants begin training camp in Lucknow, Pant and Shami to join on Tuesday
Lucknow, March 16
Lucknow Super Giants have commenced their training camp ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Monday. The franchise said captain, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and veteran pacer Mohammed Shami are due to link up with the squad on Tuesday after arriving in Lucknow in late hours on Monday.
In the session held on Monday, batters Akshat Raghuvanshi, Abdul Samad, and Himmat Singh, along with all-rounders Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Arshin Kulkarni, impressed in the nets. The pace attack of Arjun Tendulkar, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and wrist-spinner Digvesh Rathi drew praise from the coaching staff for their speed and accuracy.
LSG's Global Cricket Director Tom Moody and head coach Justin Langer provided technical guidance throughout the sessions, with assistant coaches Lance Klusener and Bharat Arun also working hard with the players.
The franchise previously had a pre-season camp in Chennai at the Coaching Beyond Academy ground. LSG will open their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign against the Delhi Capitals on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium.
LSG also said that fans will be able to enter the venue on match days using digital tickets on their smartphones. Under the new system, spectators booking tickets starting from the April 1 clash against DC through BookMyShow will receive an M-ticket directly on their registered mobile number, which can be scanned at the stadium gates for entry.
The franchise added that the initiative would eliminate the need for physical tickets and offline counter collection, thus reducing queuing time and streamlining entry on match days. LSG also said separate entry lines would be arranged at all stadium gates on match days for women, senior citizens, and children to ensure ease of access.
Since the first appearance in 2022, LSG have reached the playoffs in two seasons -- 2022 and 2023 -- and finished seventh in the points table in 2024 and 2025. Currently, LSG are the only active team to have never reached an IPL final.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting mix of youth and experience. Excited to see Mayank Yadav bowl again - his pace is electrifying. But the article mentions they've never reached a final... that's a mental hurdle they need to overcome. Langer and Moody need to build a winning mentality from day one.
The digital ticket and separate queues for women and seniors is a very thoughtful initiative. Logistical ease improves the matchday experience so much. As for the team, Shami's experience will be crucial for the young pace attack. Hoping for a playoff spot this year at least!
Good to see domestic talents like Akshat Raghuvanshi and Himmat Singh getting a chance to impress early. IPL is all about discovering these gems. But the team's record is a concern – two 7th place finishes back-to-back? The coaching staff has their work cut out. Need to be more consistent.
Strong coaching team with Langer, Moody, and Klusener. They should be able to get the best out of this squad. All the best to Rishabh Pant for the captaincy. The Ekana pitch sometimes plays slow, so the batters will need to adapt quickly during the home games.
As a Lucknow fan, just hoping this is our year! The team has the potential. Jaldi se season shuru ho! The separate entry lines are a good step, makes it safer and more convenient for families. 💙
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