Lucknow Super Giants Seek Blessings at Ram Janmabhoomi Ahead of IPL 2026

New Delhi, March 2026 : Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant, franchise principal owner and chairman Sanjiv Goenka, and several team members visited the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya to offer prayers ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, set to begin on March 28.

The franchise shared a photo of the visit on X, captioning it: “Dr. Sanjiv Goenka visits Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya along with captain Rishabh Pant and other members of the squad to receive blessings.” The team sought divine support as they gear up for their campaign in the 19th edition of the tournament.

Since their IPL debut, LSG have had a mixed record. Under former captain KL Rahul, the team reached the playoffs in IPL 2022 but were eliminated in the eliminator. In IPL 2023, LSG progressed to the second round but once again lost in the Eliminator, with Krunal Pandya captaining during the latter half of the season. IPL 2024 proved disappointing as the team failed to advance past the league stage under Rahul.

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, the franchise released Rahul and made a record-breaking move to secure Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Pant was subsequently named team captain.

Despite high expectations, Pant-led LSG struggled in IPL 2025, winning only six of their 14 matches. The team faltered in the latter half of the season, suffering four consecutive defeats that damaged their playoff hopes. Their campaign ended with a loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pant himself struggled with consistency, scoring 269 runs in 13 innings, including one century and one half-century.

Looking ahead, LSG will aim to reach their first IPL final in 2026. Their season opens against the Delhi Capitals on April 1, followed by a clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 5. The first phase of their schedule also includes matches against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9 and Gujarat Titans on April 12, according to the BCCI’s announced fixtures.

With Pant at the helm and the backing of Goenka and the management, LSG are hoping that their visit to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple brings both blessings and a boost in morale as they strive to improve on past performances and make a strong push in the upcoming IPL season.