India, April 23 -- Three weeks and seven matches into IPL 2026 - the halfway mark - and Lucknow Super Giants have just two wins to show. Five defeats, including four on the trot, have left them ninth on the points table. And their situation screams for one thing above all - a definitive batting plan with half a season still to go.

It was the pacers who set up their first win, against Sunrisers Hyderabad 18 days ago, and it was the fast-bowling unit again that laid the foundation for a potential victory on Wednesday at Ekana. But the batting unit failed to respond, collapsing for just 119 with two overs to spare in a chase of 160 - a pattern that has defined their season.

At the heart of it lies LSG's lack of clarity - constant shuffling...