Lucknow Super Giants have shifted their attention towards strengthening their batting group ahead of IPL 2027, with the franchise preparing a series of long-term development initiatives following its headline-making squad changes. According to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore, the plans include appointing a new batting coach, sending a group of domestic players to Australia for specialist training and continuing the search for additional power-hitting options before the new season.
Batting development becomes the next priority
Having completed the trade that saw Rishabh Pant join Delhi Capitals and Kuldeep Yadav move to Lucknow, the franchise is now focusing on building greater batting depth. Alongside identifying external recruitment targets, LSG is investing in developing players already within its squad as part of a broader overhaul of its batting resources.
Former Kerala cricketer G Jayakumar is expected to join the coaching staff as Batting Coach, where he will work alongside Director of Cricket Tom Moody, Head Coach Justin Langer and Bowling Coach Bharat Arun. His appointment is also expected to bring changes to the support staff, with Lance Klusener unlikely to remain with the franchise.
Perth camp planned for emerging batters
A key part of the strategy involves an overseas training programme in Perth, where a group of Indian batters will work under Langer before returning to India for further coaching with Jayakumar in Chennai. The initiative is designed to expose players to different playing conditions while helping improve power-hitting and overall batting skills.
The players expected to be part of the programme include Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi and Arshin Kulkarni. Most of the group are expected to travel to Australia in the coming days before beginning the next phase of their preparations.
Experienced coach to support long-term plans
Although Jayakumar represented Kerala as a pace bowler during his playing career, he has established a strong reputation as a batting coach and is widely credited with contributing to the development of Sai Sudharsan. His expected arrival reflects LSG’s emphasis on nurturing domestic talent alongside strengthening the squad through recruitment.
The franchise is also understood to be targeting an additional power-hitting batter before the next IPL season, signalling that player development and recruitment will run in parallel as part of the team’s rebuilding strategy.
Auction plans take shape
The recent Pant-Kuldeep trade has strengthened LSG’s financial position ahead of the next auction, with the franchise expected to have approximately INR 23 crore (approx. US$2.4 million) available after accounting for the trade, the increase in the salary cap and existing purse balance. Additional player releases could further increase that figure, giving the franchise greater flexibility as it looks to reshape its squad for IPL 2027.
With coaching changes, overseas player development and recruitment plans progressing simultaneously, LSG’s preparations suggest the franchise is pursuing a longer-term strategy to build a deeper and more balanced batting unit for the seasons ahead.
