LSG to Retain Mayank Yadav, Eye Shami in Major Shuffle
Lucknow Super Giants are preparing for a bold IPL 2026 reset—and loyalty is at the heart of it. According to sources close to the franchise, LSG will retain Mayank Yadav despite his inconsistent 2025 season, honoring a long-term commitment to the 23-year-old fast bowler they’ve nurtured for four years . But that’s just one piece of a larger puzzle. In a major strategic move, LSG are also finalizing a deal to acquire India’s premier pacer, Mohammed Shami, from Sunrisers Hyderabad—while likely releasing star leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and veteran David Miller to free up crucial salary cap space .
Table of Contents
- Why LSG to Retain Mayank Yadav Despite Challenges
- The Shami Swap: Why LSG Wants Him
- Why Bishnoi and Miller Are on the Chopping Block
- LSG’s 2026 Retention Strategy Breakdown
- How This Reshapes Their Bowling and Batting Balance
- Conclusion: A Calculated Bet on Loyalty and Leadership
- Sources
Why LSG to Retain Mayank Yadav Despite Challenges
Mayank Yadav’s journey with LSG hasn’t been smooth. After bursting onto the scene with blistering pace (clocked at 152 km/h), he struggled with form and fitness in IPL 2025, managing just 9 wickets at an economy rate of 9.85 . Many franchises would’ve cut ties. But LSG stood firm.
“The franchise didn’t want to let go of the 23-year-old when he was going through a bad time so early in his career,” revealed a senior team official . This reflects LSG’s unique philosophy: invest in raw Indian talent and provide stability during developmental phases. Having already secured him through multiple retentions, cutting him loose now would undermine that very ethos—and waste years of grooming.
At just ₹4 crore (his likely 2026 retention cost), Mayank represents high-upside value. If he rediscovers his 2024 rhythm, he could be LSG’s secret weapon.
The Shami Swap: Why LSG Wants Him
With KL Rahul’s captaincy under scrutiny and a top-order that’s lacked consistent firepower, LSG knows their 2025 campaign faltered due to a lack of a match-winning spearhead. Enter Mohammed Shami.
Though injury-plagued in 2024–25, Shami remains India’s most reliable new-ball bowler in T20s. His ability to swing the ball at pace and execute yorkers under pressure is exactly what LSG’s bowling unit lacks. Reports suggest LSG and SRH are in advanced talks for a player-swap or direct transfer, possibly involving cash compensation [[INTERNAL_LINK:ipl-player-trading-rules]].
Shami’s experience would also mentor Mayank Yadav and Akash Deep, transforming LSG’s pace attack from promising to potent.
Why Bishnoi and Miller Are on the Chopping Block
Retaining Shami and Mayank requires tough choices. Enter the expected releases:
- Ravi Bishnoi: Despite taking 18 wickets in 2025, his ₹8 crore price tag is steep for a wrist-spinner in a league increasingly favoring pace and death-bowling specialists. LSG may prefer a cheaper, high-variance overseas spinner like Adam Zampa.
- David Miller: The veteran’s strike rate dipped below 125 in the death overs. At ₹6.5 crore, his role can be filled by younger finishers like Nicholas Pooran or Ayush Badoni—freeing up ₹10+ crore combined.
This isn’t about performance alone—it’s about optimizing value under IPL’s ₹120 crore salary cap.
LSG’s 2026 Retention Strategy Breakdown
Based on current signals, LSG’s likely retention list (cost in brackets) will be:
- KL Rahul (₹16 crore) – Captain and anchor batter
- Nicholas Pooran (₹12 crore) – Explosive middle-order finisher
- Mayank Yadav (₹8 crore) – Homegrown pace talent
- Marcus Stoinis (₹10 crore) – Key all-rounder (if not traded)
- Mohammed Shami (via trade, ~₹12 crore) – New-ball leader
Releasing Bishnoi and Miller creates the financial room for Shami’s acquisition without overextending the cap.
How This Reshapes Their Bowling and Batting Balance
Post-rebuild, LSG’s XI could look like:
- Top Order: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Ayush Badoni
- Middle: Pooran, Stoinis, Krunal Pandya
- Bowling: Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, Krunal, Ravi Bishnoi (if re-signed cheaper) or new spin recruit
The addition of Shami gives them a genuine new-ball threat, while retaining Mayank ensures long-term pace depth. It’s a balanced, future-proofed core.
Conclusion: A Calculated Bet on Loyalty and Leadership
The decision to LSG to retain Mayank Yadav—even through lean patches—is more than sentiment; it’s a statement of identity. Paired with the strategic acquisition of Mohammed Shami and the hard call to release fan favorites like Bishnoi and Miller, LSG is crafting a squad built for both immediate success and sustainable growth. In a league ruled by auction-day chaos, this deliberate, values-driven rebuild might just be their path to a maiden IPL title.