Faf du Plessis slams LSG for promoting Ayush Badoni over Aiden Markram as opener in IPL 2026 clash against PBKS

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In a run-fest at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on April 19, Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a commanding 54-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 29 of the Indian Premier League 2026. However, beyond the scoreboard, it was LSG’s tactical decisions—particularly their batting order—that became the biggest talking point, drawing sharp criticism from former South African captain Faf du Plessis.

PBKS posted a daunting total of 254/7 after being put in to bat, leaving LSG with a steep chase. Despite a decent start and contributions from key batters, LSG could only manage 200/5, falling well short of the target.

Speaking during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Du Plessis expressed strong disapproval of LSG’s decision to move Aiden Markram down to No. 5, while promoting Ayush Badoni to open the innings.

Du Plessis highlighted that Markram has consistently proven his value as a top-order batter, especially in the opening role. He pointed out that shifting a player away from his most effective position can disrupt the team’s balance.

According to him, Markram’s success in recent seasons—particularly alongside Mitchell Marsh—made him a vital asset at the top. By pushing him down the order, LSG weakened one of their strongest areas. He further emphasized that teams struggling for consistency should rely more heavily on their proven strengths rather than experimenting with key roles.

“You are batting Aiden Markram out of position at five. He’s shown over the last year and a half how good an opener he has been. Even last year, him and [Mitchell] Marsh worked for them. You are taking one of your strengths and moving it into a weaker area. When you are not playing your best cricket, you look at what are your strengths and you really dial down on that.” said Du Plessis.

Du Plessis did not mince words while analyzing the decision. He stated that Markram is not ideally suited for the No. 5 or No. 6 positions in T20 cricket, especially in a tournament as competitive as the IPL. Instead, he categorized the South African batter among the best top-three players in the format.

The former Proteas skipper explained that when a team is not playing its best cricket, clarity in roles becomes even more important. In his view, LSG’s reshuffle only added pressure and uncertainty, ultimately affecting their performance in a crucial match.

“Aiden Markram’s a good player, but he’s not a good No. 5 or No. 6 in the IPL. He’s up there in terms of the best top three batters,” Du Plessis added.

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Opening the innings, Badoni showed some promise with a brisk 35 off 21 balls, while Marsh added 40 from 28 deliveries. Captain Rishabh Pant contributed 43 off 29 balls at No. 3, trying to anchor the chase. Markram, despite batting lower than usual, played an aggressive knock of 42 off 22 balls, briefly keeping LSG in contention. However, the middle order failed to build on that momentum.

A major concern for LSG was the continued dip in form of Nicholas Pooran, who managed just nine runs off nine deliveries. His inability to accelerate in the middle overs further dented the team’s chances.

Earlier in the match, PBKS batters put on a clinical display, piling up 254 runs and putting immense pressure on the opposition. Their aggressive approach ensured that LSG were always behind the required rate during the chase. In the end, while LSG showed flashes of resistance, the gap proved too large to bridge. The defeat not only impacted their position in the standings but also sparked debate over team strategy—particularly the utilization of key players like Markram.

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