Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow reached the playoffs in their first two seasons, then learned how unforgiving the Ekana surface can be when the batting misfires. The pitch is slow and grips, so the franchise has invested in players comfortable manipulating the strike rather than relying on raw power. Rishabh Pant arrived as the most expensive signing in auction history and now leads the project. Justin Langer brings the hard-edged accountability that defined his international coaching tenure.