Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra questioned Lucknow Super Giants’ batting after they suffered a seven-wicket loss against Gujarat Titans at Lucknow in IPL 2026. LSG could only post 164-8 while batting first at their home ground against GT after Shubman Gill decided to field first.
Chopra noted that LSG is the only team in IPL 2026, that hasn’t yet crossed the 200-run mark. No LSG batter could score more than 30 runs against the Titans and no one could convert their starts. Aiden Markram top-scored with 30 runs but none of the other batters could show much class.
Chopra also questioned Nicholas Pooran’s form after the West Indies batter was dismissed after scoring 19 runs off 21 balls.
“Lucknow Super Giants, the batting is looking extremely brittle. This is the only team that hasn’t reached 200 even once thus far in this season. I think every other team has hit 200. The Lucknow Super Giants got to bat first, and they didn’t score 200 runs once again. The truth is that fewer than 210 haven’t been defended successfully even once in this IPL,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“So if you want to win while batting first, you need to go beyond 210. This team didn’t even reach 170. Rishabh Pant looked a little okay, but then he got out. Ayush Badoni got out, and Nicholas Pooran is not looking good at all. Aiden Markram was the only one who batted well. Mukul Choudhary played a few shots in the end. Again, not good enough,” he observed.
On the other hand, the former KKR batter praised Gujarat Titans’ collective bowling effort. Prasidh Krishna returned with figures of 4-28 in his four overs and bagged the Player of the Match award. Chopra said Kagiso Rabada, who conceded 54 runs in his four overs, was the only problem for GT with the ball.
“Prasidh Krishna – Purple Cap holder, Siraj – coming back into form, brilliant, and Ashok Sharma – really rapid, he was bowling at 150-152 kph. Rabada was the only problem. Everyone bowled so well, and this guy conceded more than 50 runs in four overs,” he said.
“So that is a problem for sure, but overall, a near-perfect game. Gill and Buttler scored half-centuries, and it was just a formality in the end. They won very easily. Washington Sundar played a few shots to set aside the challenge,” Chopra observed.
LSG will next take on RCB at Bengaluru on Wednesday whereas GT will face KKR at Ahmedabad on Friday.
