fast bowler Mohammed Shami has spoken out against some of the experts who have downgraded the chances of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. This comes before the Lucknow-based team plays its first match of the new season against Delhi Capitals at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, April 1.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Shami was asked about his team's prospects for the upcoming season.
The host asked Shami, “Where do you see LSG in the IPL this year? Because some of your 'big' peers have not rated the team yet.”
In response, the 35-year-old clearly said that he does not agree with any outside noise about LSG's prospects and instead wants to prove his point by performing well for his new franchise.
Shami replied, “My words will hurt – you are asking this kind of question. People feel bad. Giving ratings or giving numbers to someone does not make someone great.”
Shami is an IPL veteran, having previously represented five franchises since making his debut in 2013. The right-arm fast bowler has now joined LSG on an all-cash deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2026 season.
lsg Shami will be relied upon to perform well this season and lead their bowling unit as they have an inexperienced department with the likes of Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan.
Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians are being considered as the favorites for the trophy considering the Rishabh Pant-led side comes in as one of the underdogs in the 2026 IPL. However, they have a top order which is one of the strongest in the tournament.
LSG have strengthened a batting lineup with the addition of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran as well as captain Pant in the top four. So their success in this year's tournament will largely depend on the form of the above top four.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply