5 Players LSG might release ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Lucknow Super Giants head into the off-season with a clear headache as the IPL 2025 campaign exposed holes in depth, fitness and balance. Injuries to key seamers and a handful of expensive or underused signings mean the franchise has real decisions to make before the retention deadline. Here’s a look at five players who could be let go and why each move would make sense for LSG ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

1. Mayank Yadav

Mayank was retained by LSG for a massive ₹11 crore before the 2025 season, a bold vote of faith in raw pace and potential. But a recurring back problem ended his season early, as he was ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 with another back injury. 

This ongoing fitness uncertainty is the crux of the release argument. For a player commanding that kind of purse, availability is non-negotiable. LSG may prefer to free salary space for a dependable fast-bowling option, who just does not deliver but remains available for complete seasons as well.

2. David Miller

Miller remains a high-quality finisher with a long IPL resume. He crossed the 3,000-run mark in the competition during 2025, but he’s 35 and expensive in overseas quota terms. 

LSG bought him for ₹7.5 crore, and he gave flashes, yet the franchise’s bigger problem in 2025 was inconsistent middle-order impact from overseas picks. Releasing Miller would be a clear salary-cap and roster-shape play to keep resources for a younger, more impactful overseas bat or an all-rounder who can tilt multiple matchups. He could not finish many matches where he had a clear opportunity to do so, and might be released as well.

3. Shamar Joseph

Joseph arrived as a pace prospect who could consistently hit 140kph and was secured via RTM, but his chances in LSG’s 2025 XI could not become possible. He had to call off his IPL season due to an injury and that led to the team changing their plans for the entire season. 

When a foreign seamer is paid and not regularly used, the opportunity cost of keeping him on the roster grows, especially if the team wants more seam depth that’s IPL-proven and available across conditions. If another seam reinvestment is planned, Joseph is a logical name to free up.

4. Shahbaz Ahmed 

Shahbaz is a tidy left-hand bat and a left-arm spin option who offers fielding value and flexibility. LSG paid around ₹2.4 crore in the 2025 cycle, but his returns have been inconsistent with the economy and average numbers in different seasons haven’t always justified his selection in the powerplay or the middle overs. 

Teams that need a true all-round enforcer, someone who regularly contributes with both bat and ball at match-defining moments, may look elsewhere. LSG could trade Shahbaz’s moderate price for a specialist or a power-hitter who changes the equation, especially with the impact player rule in the league.

5. 

Mohsin has been an important domestic pace option for LSG across seasons, but injuries again undermined his 2025 contribution. The team even called up replacements and benefited. A replacement seamer seized spells that temporarily filled the void. 

Releasing Mohsin wouldn’t be a comment on his talent, as it would be a pragmatic response to a pattern clubs fear, i.e., talented players who can’t be relied on through a full season. LSG might decide they need bowlers who can be selected week in, week out. They have showed confidence in him over the years, but his injuries have always hurt the team plans.

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