Lucknow Super Giants could be heading for a major change behind the scenes after a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign. The franchise finished last in the tournament and owner Sanjiv Goenka has now admitted that some important changes may be needed before the next season.
One of the biggest issues Sanjiv Goenka has identified is communication between foreign coaches and Indian players. LSG currently has one of the biggest coaching teams in the IPL. Justin Langer from Australia is the head coach, while his fellow Australian Tom Moody serves as the Global Director of Cricket. South Africa’s Lance Klusener is the assistant coach and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson is the mentor.
The large coaching setup had already attracted attention last season. Former captain Rishabh Pant, who has since been traded out, had spoken several times about having to deal with “too many” voices within the team.
Sanjiv Goenka said that having a strong group of players and coaches on paper does not automatically guarantee success. According to him, a team needs everyone to work together and find the right combination. He added that LSG has not yet completed its review of the 2026 season. The franchise plans to sit down with the coaching staff after The Hundred finishes. The review will focus on what went wrong during the season and which mistakes should not be repeated.
Sanjiv Goenka also pointed out an unusual trend in LSG’s last two seasons. In 2025, the team’s batting worked well while the bowling struggled. In 2026, the situation was almost the opposite, the bowling performed well but the batting failed.
He believes something needs to be reset within the team. However, no final decision has been made yet. Sanjiv Goenka said that discussions will take place with Tom Moody, Kane Williamson and Justin Langer before deciding what changes, if any, should be made. When asked specifically about the language gap between the foreign coaching staff and the largely Indian squad, Sanjiv Goenka agreed that it can create problems.
He explained that while Indian players generally understand the cricketing terminology used by international coaches, communication can become difficult when conversations go beyond cricket. Understanding a player’s mindset, emotions and other aspects of communication can require a different level of connection. According to Sanjiv Goenka, improving this communication could therefore become an important part of LSG’s plans going forward.
With a review still pending, it remains to be seen whether LSG will continue with its current coaching structure or make significant changes before the next IPL season.
