'Playoffs not enough, we want the trophy' - LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka sets clear title ambitions ahead of IPL 2026

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has made it clear that merely reaching the playoffs does not align well with the franchise’s ambitions, as the team gears up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

Despite being one of the newer teams in the competition, the franchise already secured playoff qualifications twice, but Goenka believes the ultimate goal is to clinch their maiden title, which has been evading his team since their inception in 2022.

“I think our true identity is still evolving. For any sports team, until you get victory, you don’t receive the same level of respect or affection that comes with lifting the trophy. Yes, we’ve made the playoffs twice, but that’s clearly not good enough. You win some, you lose some, but we have to win our first trophy,” Goenka said while speaking on JioHotstar.

Reflecting on the previous season, Goenka further highlighted the challenges LSG faced due to injuries to key bowlers, while also acknowledging the positives that emerged from adversity.

“The positive (from last season) was that we won four of our first six games despite most of our frontline bowlers being injured. There were some bold moves, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening, which isn’t their usual position, and it turned out to be their best IPL season for both of them.

Digvesh Rathi came in as a complete newcomer and did well for us. However, we did realise that we lacked a strong bowling core, and we’ve consciously addressed that by building a domestic Indian bowling unit this time. We’re happy with what we have,” the owner concluded.

He further opined that even though his players had a very good season personally last year, the team as a collective unit failed to live up to the expectations.

"You can always improve, aspire to do better, there’s no end to improving. But at the end of the day, this is a squad that has everything required. Now it’s about coming together and performing as a unit, rather than as individuals. Last year, there were too many individuals performing. This year, we want to perform as a team,” he concluded.

With a reinforced squad and a clearer vision, LSG will be aiming to translate their potential into a championship campaign in IPL 2026 under the leadership of Rishabh Pant.