Former Indian opener Abhinav Mukund questioned Lucknow Super Giants’ team selection after they suffered a six-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals at Lucknow on Wednesday. Mukund slammed LSG for not playing Digvesh Singh Rathi, who was the find of the previous season, in playing 12 against DC.

Rathi was LSG’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025, taking 14 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 30.64 and an economy rate of 8.25. However, the mystery spinner could not replicate the same performance in Delhi Premier League’s season 2 for South Delhi Superstarz.

Abhinav Mukund said on ESPN Cricinfo, “I felt the balance of the team was pretty off – seven batters and four bowlers. And then you had to sacrifice your find of last season. I know he may not have followed that up with an excellent domestic season. He’s not been amongst the wickets. He’s not had a great domestic season but that doesn’t mean – you’ve released Bishnoi which means you’ve had your faith in Digvesh Rathi and said ‘okay, you are my number one spinner and you don’t play him the first match.”

The former Tamil Nadu batter said LSG are yet to establish their identity in the IPL, whereas the Gujarat Titans have developed their identity. 

He added, “I’m very unsure about LSG. They are a very young side in the IPL. So are the Gujarat Titans, who are slowly building an identity towards who they are. They might have lost their first game [in 2026] but you know what the Gujarat Titans will come up with on a certain day. They are top-heavy and rely on their bowlers. They rely on their experience in the middle in terms of their spinners. With Lucknow, you always feel like there is no identity within the team.”

Lucknow Super Giants will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Sunday.