Big changes are happening at Lucknow Super Giants. The franchise just replaced its legendary fielding coach Jonty Rhodes. Abhay Sharma takes over this crucial role for IPL 2026.
This decision shocked many cricket fans worldwide. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest fielders ever. But LSG’s poor performances demanded major changes throughout the organization.
Owner Sanjiv Goenka clearly wants better results next season. The team struggled badly in recent IPL editions. Two consecutive failures forced management to rethink everything completely.
Why LSG Made This Difficult Decision
Fielding cost LSG dearly during IPL 2025 unfortunately. They finished seventh on the points table with just 12 points. That’s nowhere near playoff qualification standards at all.
The statistics tell a horrible story honestly. LSG dropped 14 catches in their first 9 matches alone! They also missed 22 run-out opportunities during that same period.
These were among the worst fielding stats recorded that season. Rhodes couldn’t fix the fielding problems despite his legendary status. Sometimes, even legends can’t turn things around magically.
The franchise needed fresh ideas and different approaches. Abhay Sharma brings exactly that kind of energy. His track record speaks volumes about his coaching abilities.
Who is Abhay Sharma?
Abhay Sharma is a former Delhi cricketer with special work. He’s coached multiple Indian stars during their junior days. Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all learned under him.
He worked with LSG captain Rishabh Pant during Pant’s early career. That well bond helps build trust instantly. Dhruv Jurel and Avesh Khan also trained under Sharma.
Sharma was part of India’s Under-19 support staff many times. He coached the 2018 U-19 World Cup-winning team. Prithvi Shaw captained that squad with Shubman Gill starring.
He also worked with the Indian Women’s National Cricket Team in 2021. Remember Harleen Deol’s stunning boundary catch? That happened under Sharma’s fielding tip.
Sharma even coached Uganda’s national team. They qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup under him!
LSG’s Complete Backroom Overhaul
Sharma isn’t the only new face joining LSG. Tom Moody arrived as Global Director of Cricket. Kane Williamson joined as a Strategic Advisor.
These appointments show LSG’s serious commitment to improvement. The mini auction brought squad changes too. Everything points toward a fresh start.
Jonty Rhodes served LSG from 2023 to 2025 loyally. His departure marks the end of an era. But sometimes change becomes necessary for progress!
