Top 3 players Lucknow Super Giants can release ahead of IPL 2027 auction

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) continued their tough campaign even in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, and it resulted in their captain, Rishabh Pant, being traded to his old franchise, Delhi Capitals, as Kuldeep Yadav joined them. They finished with the wooden spoon, having got just four wins in 14 clashes at a net run rate of -0.740. 

The Super Giants could be heading towards a major squad overhaul in the mini auction of the 2027 season after their disappointment in 2026. Keeping the nightmarish season behind, the management will look to start fresh. And they still have a few great and established players in the squad.

However, their expensive signings failed to deliver consistently. The injury concerns, limited chances, and the underwhelming performances could push the franchise’s retention process. Players like Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Anrich Nortje didn’t do well and could be put into the auction.

The three players LSG can release: Salaries, form and the purse savings

Releasing a few players could free up a huge purse for the Lucknow side and strengthen the departments that let them down during the IPL 2026. The franchise hasn’t confirmed any release list before the IPL 2027 auction, but here are the top three probable players who could get released by the Lucknow side:

#3 George Lindie (INR 1 crore)-

The left-arm spinner of the South African side, George Linde, came into the IPL 2026 as a replacement for Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who withdrew from the competition due to injury. The nearly 35-year-old got to play just three games and picked up only one wicket across his 6.1 overs at an economy rate of nearly nine. 

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Linde could be easily axed by the LSG side. There will be several other spinners available in the auction who would be better than Linde. If Lucknow gets an Indian spinner, then it would be more valuable for the franchise.

#2 Wanindu Hasaranga (INR 2 crore)-

The Sri Lankan spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, has been a bit of a gamble in the IPL. He gets signed by the franchises in the auction before being withdrawn. The leg spinner played in 11 innings of the 2025 season of the IPL and picked up only 11 wickets at an economy rate of 9.04, with the best figures of 4/35 in an innings. But his continuous injury has been an issue.

Lucknow struggled badly in the middle overs of the last season, and Hasaranga’s absence didn’t help them at all, with Digvesh Rathi going through a tough campaign in 2026. Releasing Hasaranga will free up their IPL 2 crore at the auction table, and if they do, they may get a good chance of getting him for a lower price.

#1 Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore)-

Leaving Nicholas Pooran ahead of the 2027 auction of the IPL by the Super Giants could turn out to be a double-edged sword. The left-handed batter is always going to be a vital member of any 20-over side, but in the previous season, he struggled massively, getting only 234 runs in 14 innings at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 127.86 with just one fifty.

But having crossed the 500-run mark in the 2025 season, Pooran could get the trust from the LSG management for another edition. The retired former West Indies captain will have the issue. But releasing the star player will free up a massive chunk of INR 21 crore for the LSG side, who can get back the southpaw for a lower price.

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Lucknow will also need to appoint a new captain, and Pooran could be a good option for it if he gets retained. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh is another option they may explore for the 2027 season.