News
Australia wicket-keeper-batter Josh Inglis should finally link up with Lucknow Super Giants in time for their 4 May home match against Mumbai Indians. The 30-year-old organised his wedding for mid-April – “the only free window I could see in the calendar,” he joked to Perth radio last month – and was married on 18 April. LSG always knew the ceremony would rule him out of the first half of the tournament and still paid INR 8.6 crore for him at December’s auction.
Head coach Andy Flower reiterated that view on Sunday. “We were upfront about Josh’s availability, no surprises there,” Flower said. “He gives us middle-order power and a keeping option, so we were happy to wait.”
The Super Giants have six league fixtures left after the Mumbai game, meaning Inglis may yet have a decent stint if the paperwork and travel go smoothly. At present the franchise pick three overseas regulars – Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran – and dip in and out with a fourth. South African spinner George Linde has filled that slot twice in three outings; Pooran, though, is short of runs (51 in six innings at a strike-rate of 80) and his place is under scrutiny.
Analyst Lisa Sthalekar believes Inglis could be the spark. “He scored at more than 160 last year for Punjab and attacked spin straightaway, something LSG have struggled with,” she told Star Sports. “Slot him at five, let him finish, and you suddenly lengthen that batting card.”
Nortje’s quiet exit
While one overseas star arrives, another has departed. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje left the camp last week for undisclosed reasons after just one appearance – 0-39 against Delhi on 1 April. Team management say the door remains open. “Anrich has our full support,” Flower noted, stopping short of confirming whether an injury was involved.
Where they stand
Two wins from six leave LSG eighth in the ten-team table. Their next assignment is Rajasthan Royals in Lucknow on 22 April. Skipper KL Rahul kept things simple after the latest defeat: “We need runs, we need wickets, and we need them quickly.”
If Inglis lands on time and rediscovered his 2025 form – 278 runs at 162.57 – those requirements might not look quite so daunting.
