Lucknow Super Giants have received a timely boost with Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis joining the squad ahead of their crucial IPL 2026 clash against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
Inglis had earlier informed franchises about his limited availability for the tournament due to his own wedding, and was picked by LSG for Rs 8.60 crore. His wedding took place in Margaret River, Western Australia, on April 18.
His previous IPL stint showed promise, with 278 runs across 11 innings at an average of 30.88 and a strike rate of 162.57, numbers that could prove valuable for a side searching for consistency in its batting unit.
The timing could not be more critical. LSG sit tenth with four points from eight games, with a net run rate of minus 1.106 that reflects how heavily they have been beaten in several of their losses.
Nicholas Pooran has an average of just 10.25 in the IPL 2026 Season, while openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh have averaged 24.12 and 10.25 respectively. Compounding their woes, South African batter Matthew Breetzke has departed the tournament for personal reasons, creating further space in the overseas batting combination.
Inglis had one of the best strike rates in the tournament at number three, and his ability to take the game on early is exactly what LSG have been missing.
In the coming week, LSG face a demanding three-match stretch against the Mumbai Indians on Monday, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday, and the Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, a pivotal run that will define whether their playoff hopes remain alive.
