Lucknow Super Giants' Home Ground - Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, popularly known as Ekana Cricket Stadium, in Lucknow, is the primary home venue for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). This venue is ready to host seven home matches for LSG in the IPL 2025.

Recent matches played by LSG at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium

• IPL 2024 League Match: LSG vs KKR - Kolkata Knight Riders won by 98 runs
• IPL 2024 League Match: LSG vs MI - Hosts won by 4 wickets
• IPL 2024 League Match: LSG vs RR - Rajasthan Royals won by 7 wickets

Lucknow Super Giants' IPL 2025 Home Matches at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow 

How to Buy Tickets for LSG Matches at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

(All the following information about IPL 2025 tickets is only expected. The actual information will be updated once the official statements)

Online Booking:

• Available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the LSG official website.
• Select your match, choose your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Offline tickets may be available at the Ekana Cricket Stadium box office and selected retail outlets.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• INR 400-1100 (Block Tickets)
• INR 1500-2500 (Gallery Tickets)
• INR 5000-7000 (Lawn Tickets)
• INR 7500-8000 (Lounge Tickets)
• INR 8500-9000 (Corporate Box Tickets)
• INR 20000 (Premium Lounge Tickets) 

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who made their IPL debut in 2022, are ready for the IPL 2025. After reaching the Eliminators in their first two IPL seasons, LSG finished in the seventh position in the last IPL season. Let’s check LSG’s top buy in the auction, full squad, and completed squad for the IPL 2025.   

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Top Buys at IPL 2025 Auction

• Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore): Indian wicketkeeper-batter set a new record for the most expensive buys in the IPL auction history. He is a solid wicketkeeper and fearless left-handed batter. 
• Avesh Khan (INR 9.75 crore): Indian fast bowler Avesh Khan is known for maintaining his quick speed with the ball in hand. 
• Akash Deep (INR 8 crore): Indian right-arm pacer Akash Deep is a good pacer and ready to prove himself in a challenging situation. 
• David Miller (INR 7.50 crore): Experienced South African middle-order batter David Miller can change the game scenario quickly with his powerful batting. 
  

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Full Squad for IPL 2025

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) IPL 2025 Complete Schedule

March 24: Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants at Vizag (19:30 IST)

March 27: SunRisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants at Hyderabad (19:30 IST)

April 1: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 4: Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 6: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants at Kolkata (15:30 IST)

April 12: Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans at Lucknow (15:30 IST)

April 14: Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 19: Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants at Kolkata (19:30 IST)

April 22: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 27: Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants at Mumbai (15:30 IST)

May 4: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants at Dharamsala (19:30 IST)

May 9: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

May 14: Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants at Ahmedabad (19:30 IST)

May 18: Lucknow Super Giants vs SunRisers Hyderabad at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is the most highly anticipated cricket league all over the world. With major teams and cricket players participating to win the glamorous trophy, IPL 2025 will be a thrilling season.

• Organizer: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
• Edition: 18th season of IPL
• Total Teams: 10
• Match Format: T20 (20 overs per side)
• Number of Matches: Expected to be around 74
• Venues: Multiple cities across India
• Start Date: March 22
• Final Date:  May 25
• Official Broadcasters: Star Sports, JioHotstar (for digital streaming)

Participating Teams in ipl 2025

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Mumbai Indians (MI) - Captain: Hardik Pandya
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - Captain: Rajat Patidar
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - Captain: TBD
5. Delhi Capitals (DC) - Captain: TBD
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR) - Captain: Sanju Samson
7. Punjab Kings (PBKS) - Captain: Shreyas Iyer
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) - Captain: Pat Cummins
9. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - Captain: Rishabh Pant
10. Gujarat Titans (GT) - Captain: Shubman Gill

IPL 2025 SCHEDULE:

• 22-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Kolkata)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (Hyderabad)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Chennai)
• 24-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Visakhapatnam)
• 25-Mar-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings (Ahmedabad)
• 26-Mar-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati)
• 27-Mar-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (Hyderabad)
• 28-Mar-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Chennai)
• 29-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians (Ahmedabad)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Visakhapatnam)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
• 31-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Mumbai)

APRIL:

• 01-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (Lucknow)
• 02-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• 03-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Kolkata)
• 04-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians (Lucknow)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals (Chennai)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (New Chandigarh)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants (Kolkata)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (Hyderabad)
• 07-Apr-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Mumbai)
• 08-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings (New Chandigarh)
• 09-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (Ahmedabad)
• 10-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals (Bengaluru)
• 11-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Chennai)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (Lucknow)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings (Hyderabad)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Jaipur)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (Delhi)
• 15-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals (Lucknow)
• 16-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (New Chandigarh)
• 17-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• 18-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Mumbai)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings (Bengaluru)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals (Ahmedabad)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Jaipur)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (New Chandigarh)
• April 20, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings (Mumbai)
• April 21, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Gujarat Titans (Kolkata)
• April 22, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Delhi Capitals (Lucknow)
• April 23, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians (Hyderabad)
• April 24, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Rajasthan Royals (Bengaluru)
• April 25, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Chennai)
• April 26, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Punjab Kings (Kolkata)
• April 27, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Mumbai)
• April 28, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Delhi)
• April 29, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Gujarat Titans (Jaipur)
• April 30, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Delhi)

MAY:

• May 1, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Punjab Kings (Chennai)
• May 2, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians (Jaipur)
• May 3, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Ahmedabad)
• May 4, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• May 5, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals (Kolkata)
• May 6, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Dharamsala)
• May 7, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Delhi Capitals (Hyderabad)
• May 8, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans (Mumbai)
• May 9, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Chennai Super Kings (Kolkata)
• May 10, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals (Dharamsala)
• May 11, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Lucknow)
• May 12, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Hyderabad)
• May 13, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians (Dharamsala)
• May 14, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• May 15, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals (Chennai)
• May 16, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru)
• May 17, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Ahmedabad)
• May 18, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Capitals (Mumbai)
• May 19, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings (Jaipur)
• May 20, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengaluru)
• May 21, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 1 (Ahmedabad)
• May 22, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Eliminator (Hyderabad)
• May 24, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 2 (Kolkata)
• May 25, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Final (Kolkata)

IPL 2025 Highest Auction:

• Rishabh Pant:27 cr
• Shreyas Iyer:26.75
• Venkatesh Iyer:23.75
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi:1.1(Debue)

Major Highlights of 2025:

• Impact Player Rule Refining: The 2023 IPL rule is set to be made more flexible with modifications to include more strategic substitution.
  
• Venue Expansion: New locations can be incorporated into the host venue list to increase IPL's fan base all over India.
  
• DRS Rule Improvements: Enhanced technology and more review choices can be implemented to reduce errors made by umpires.
  
• Focus on Emerging Players: Franchises are acquiring young players with development programs and scouting programs.
  
• Salary Cap Hike: The BCCI is likely to hike the purse limit of franchises so that larger bids are possible in auctions.

ALSO READ:CSK vs MI at Chepauk: The Ultimate IPL Rivalry Set for March 23?

IPL 2025 SQUADS:

RCB: Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, and Suyash Sharma.

CSK:Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddarth, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Deepak Hooda, Rachin Ravindra, Vijay Shankar, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Gurjapneet Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal.

KKR:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

MI:Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Bevon-John Jacobs, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Naman Dhir, Vignesh Puthur, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Shrijith Krishnan, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Lizaad Williams, Arjun Tendulkar, Karn Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju.

DC:KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, Donovan Ferreira, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, L Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav.

RR:Sanju Samson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nitish Rana, Yudhvir Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma, Kwena Maphaka.

PBKS:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

SRH:Pat Cummins (Captain), Travis Head, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Aniket Verma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Zeeshan Ansari.

LSG:Rishabh Pant (Captain), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Aryan Juyal, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, M Siddharth, Akash Deep.

GT:Shubman Gill (Captain), Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, B. Sai Sudharsan, M. Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, M. Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma.

English seamer Saqib Mahmood has been one of the few amongst the visitors to impress in their ongoing limited-overs tour of India so far. The Birmingham-born speedster, known to touch 145 kmph, is renowned for getting the ball to reverse, but has been unable to display this skill due to the paucity of time.
While he has, in the past, concentrated on red-ball cricket, having rejected an IPL offer in 2022 to concentrate on his Test career, a white-ball contract with Lancashire recently might mean he is now available for T20 leagues, including the IPL. With that in mind, here are three teams that could go after Saqib Mahmood in the upcoming IPL auction.

1.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Build the feared bowling attack that is going to be unstoppable Mahmood’s knowledge could perhaps be most by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who don’t have any overseas seamers beyond the young Shamar Joseph from West Indies. While Joseph is a new-ball specialist, Mahmood would have been the one who gives accuracy along with an all-round package.

Why LSG should consider Mahmood?
Mahmood LSG pacer aimed to get in the mix:  Mahmood is a good paceman for sure, with no other regular overseas seamer in LSG.
Mahmood would give tremendous variety and balance restricting the powerful Indian seamers such as Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, and Mohsin Khan.
Only Ravi Bishnoi even has serious IPL experience in LSG's bowling attack and their pace department looks very green.
Lucknow Super Giants, with Mahmood in the lineup, would have one of the worst pace attacks and would not lead them to the good part of the season. 

2.Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Strength to the Fast Bowling Unit
The Rajasthan Royals have always been a team which seeks youth and emerging talent. Mahmood would be the perfect fit for their fast bowling unit. They have some great bowling assets already, such as Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna. But they might need another express pacer who can provide breakthroughs both in the powerplay and the death overs.

Why RR May Go For Mahmood?
With Boult aging and probably playing selective matches, RR needs a backup strike bowler.
Mahmood generates sharp bounce and movement. That makes him a good choice.
RR play half their games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium where pacers get some help with the new ball.
If Rajasthan Royals can manage to get his services, then Mahmood would prove to be a deadly combination with their current quicks and their bowling line-up would look all the more dangerous.

ALSO READ:Rashid Khan Matches Dwayne Bravo’s T20 Wicket Record, Enters Elite Club

3. Punjab Kings
Had Mahmood been picked by the Punjab Kings in the auction held in November 2024, they may not have gone for the Australian Xavier Bartlett. And this may not have been a bad decision, given that Mahmood has much more experience in international cricket than the Brisbane Heat's Bartlett.

With Lockie Ferguson the second overseas seamer and Arshdeep Singh a leader of the attack, Mahmood would have enjoyed being a part of the PBKS. The pitches in PCA Stadium at Mohali as well as the new one at Mullanpur do encourage pace and carry, and this would have been music to Mahmood's ears.

Rishabh Pant Credits Rohit Sharma for Shaping His Leadership Philosophy Ahead of IPL 2025

Rishabh Pant, the new captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), recognizes Rohit Sharma the important man leading India for showing him how to look after his team and trust them. This call is special because, even though Pant began his cricket under Virat Kohli in 2017 and has played with  captains such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, it's Rohit's guidance that's truly led him into the exciting world of what it means to be a good leader.

Pant's taking over as LSG's captain is of major importance  they are relying on him to do an excellent job both as a fearless hitter and a leader who knows his material. The individual's just 25 years old and already cost them ₹27 crore, so they're expecting him to shoot straight and deliver. In an exchange recently, Pant was reflective about how he's gotten better at leading, saying it's not only the important people who've taught him, but also the seasoned players teaching him how things work.

Rishabh Pant on the qualities of Rohit Sharma as a captain. 🫡❤️pic.twitter.com/0g3ik3EhMu

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 20, 2025

Yes, I've learned from a lot of captains and many senior players because I believe leadership lessons are not confined to captains alone. There's so much to gain from experienced players and the manner they approach the evolving skill, Pant said, diving into how it's not only the major names, but also the lessons from the field, that count. But it was Rohit Sharma who really added the enhancements to how he thinks about making his team feel valued and believed in. Pant was saying, With Rohit bhai, I've learned how to care for a player, and that resonates with my own philosophy as a captain, pointing out that a little faith can push a player to do amazing things for the team.

ALSO READ: ECL 2025: Full Squad List for the Entertainers Cricket League

Captain. Rishabh. Pant.

That’s the tweet🔥 pic.twitter.com/3NdCc00l5D

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) January 20, 2025

Mister Pant wants his team to keep going, even when it's tough, because that never-quit way of thinking is what he believes will make LSG stand out. It is noticeably about giving that extra bit for the team and building from the ground up, a sensation where everyone's pushing the limits for each other. And in the final analysis, having Zaheer Khan, a cricket legend, by his side as a mentor for LSG is going to be very important.

Khan's been through it all and having him to lean on is going to help Pant handle the pressure of leading a team in such a strikingly large competition. similar to Pant's approach while captain of the Delhi Capitals, he's bringing that same energy to LSG. Conceptually, Pant's plan of action is to become acquainted and build a group that's not simply talented but tough and ready to face whatever the 2025 IPL season sets forward. With trust, a strong fighting spirit, and leadership that focuses on bringing out the best in each player, LSG's looking to leave a mark under Pant's leadership.world of IPL cricket.

The IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made headlines for its record-breaking bids and strategic team-building. The Lucknow Super Giants stunned everyone by securing Rishabh Pant for an unprecedented ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Punjab Kings showcased their aggressive intent, acquiring Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore and Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore, strengthening their squad with both batting firepower and bowling depth. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders went all-in for Venkatesh Iyer, shelling out ₹23.75 crore to bring the all-rounder back to their camp. The seasoned leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also fetched ₹18 crore, marking Punjab Kings as the team with three of the top five buys in this auction.

The auction reflected a clear shift in franchise strategies, emphasizing proven match-winners and game-changers. Punjab Kings' bold moves signaled their determination to break their IPL title drought, assembling a star-studded lineup under a hefty price tag. Lucknow's decision to splurge on Rishabh Pant suggested a long-term vision to build their squad around a dynamic leader, while Kolkata's faith in Venkatesh Iyer aimed to rejuvenate their middle order and all-round capabilities. With record sums exchanged and marquee players switching loyalties, the stage is set for IPL 2025 to be one of the most competitive seasons yet.

See Also: Should KL Rahul Have Commanded a Higher Price in the IPL Auction?

Breakdown of all top 5 buys in IPL 2025 mega auction 

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah was not just a spectacle of staggering bids but also a testament to the star power and proven credentials of its top players. Rishabh Pant, acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a record-breaking ₹27 crore, emerged as the headline act. Pant's IPL career stats underline his explosive batting and leadership potential. With 3,284 runs at a strike rate of 148.93, including a blazing 128* as his highest score, he embodies the modern-day T20 prototype: a power-hitting wicketkeeper-batter who can single-handedly change games. With 18 half-centuries, a century, and the added value of 75 catches and 23 stumpings, Pant's role as a captain for LSG is expected to galvanize their campaign.

Shreyas Iyer, bought by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, brought his reputation as a reliable middle-order batter and a title-winning IPL captain to the table. While his batting is often deemed one-dimensional due to a moderate strike rate of 127.48, his consistent run tally of 3,127 runs across 115 matches, including 21 fifties, makes him a vital anchor in any lineup. Punjab’s aggressive bidding for Iyer reflects their ambition to establish stability and leadership at the top, hoping to leverage his tactical acumen to finally secure an elusive IPL title.

Kolkata Knight Riders made waves by reclaiming Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore. The flamboyant batting all-rounder has been a revelation in the IPL, amassing 1,326 runs at a brisk strike rate of 137.13. His middle-over exploits, complemented by a century and 11 fifties in just 50 matches, make him a dynamic game-changer. While his bowling hasn't been heavily utilized in the IPL, his potential as a sixth bowler adds a tactical edge. KKR’s faith in Venkatesh signals their intent to fortify their middle order with explosiveness and all-round balance.

Punjab Kings dominate IPL 2025 auction

Punjab Kings continued their aggressive spending spree by snapping up Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore each. Arshdeep, known for his versatility as a new-ball and death-overs bowler, brings immense value with 76 wickets at an economy of 9.03 across 65 matches. His ability to deliver under pressure and a best of 5/32 position him as one of the most reliable Indian pacers. Meanwhile, Chahal, with 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.45 and a strike rate of 17.18, is a proven match-winner. As the second-leading T20I wicket-taker for India, his knack for dismantling batting lineups makes him a prized asset.

With three players among the top five buys, Punjab Kings have showcased their intent to build a squad capable of dominating IPL 2025. Their acquisitions of Iyer, Arshdeep, and Chahal reflect a balanced approach, combining batting depth, wicket-taking prowess, and tactical leadership. Lucknow Super Giants’ record-breaking investment in Pant highlights their focus on a game-changing leader, while KKR’s commitment to Venkatesh Iyer emphasizes their desire for middle-order explosiveness. As these stars gear up for the upcoming season, the stage is set for a thrilling competition where these marquee players are expected to justify their hefty price tags.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to run in the IPL 2025 under a new leadership. After making their IPL debut in the 2022 edition, they reached the Eliminators in the first two editions (2022 and 2023) but finished in seventh place in the 2024 edition, where they had the same points as the fourth-positioned team but ended with very low net run-rate. 

LSG retained five key players by deducting INR 51 crore. While they had to do impactful and calculative bidding in the mega auction, they started that with a purse remaining of INR 69 crore. We will see their auction status below.  

Lucknow Super Giants: Key additions from the mega auction

LSG set up a new record in the IPL auction history when they won Rishabh Pant’s bid for INR 27 crore. Avesh Khan (INR 9.75 crore), Akash Deep (INR 8 crore), and David Miller (INR 7.50 crore) were the other players who earned more than INR 5 crore. They also bought players like Abdul Samad, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Aiden Markram, etc. 

LSG Full Squad

Batters: Ayush Badoni (retained), David Miller (South African), Aiden Markram (South African), Himmat Singh

Wicketkeepers: Nicholas Pooran (retained/Trinidadian), Rishabh Pant, Matthew Breetzke (South African), Aryan Juyal

All-rounders: Mitchell Marsh (Australian), Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Abdul Samad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni

Spinners: Ravi Bishoni (retained), Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Singh

Pacers: Mayank Yadav (retained), Mohsin Khan (retained), Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Shamar Joseph (Guyanese), Prince Yadav, Akash Singh

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Ranking all ten teams squads post the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Brief SWOT analysis

Lucknow Super Giants have strong batting options from overseas and strong bowling options from India. Although the LSG have tried their best to set a well-balanced team for the IPL 2025, there are some challenges for one of the newest IPL teams. 

Although LSG have built up a strong Indian pace-bowling line-up, the experiences are very low. Their biggest challenge will be to handle the tougher situations. Similarly, there aren’t strong Indian batting options, except for Rishabh Pant. It means that LSG are overly dependent on foreigners for the batting. 

LSG Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) started their IPL journey in the 2022 season and played Eliminators in their first two seasons before finishing in seventh place in the 2024 season.

LSG are looking to a new start with INR 69 crore at the beginning of the IPL 2025 mega auction. In the pre-auction retention, they officially spent 51 crore to retain five players, including three capped and two uncapped players.  

Rishabh Pant smashed the IPL auction record as LSG won the bid for him for INR 27 crore.  David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram are the significant overseas buys for LSG in this mega auction. Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, etc. are the other big Indian names in the new LSG squad. 

Pre Auction Retentions

(Capped)

Nicholas Pooran (Trinidadian): INR 21 Crore

Ravi Bishnoi (Indian): INR 11 Crore

Mayank Yadav (Indian): INR 11 Crore

(Uncapped)

Mohsin Khan (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Ayush Badoni (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

1 capped player

Mega Auction Buys

Rishabh Pant (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 27 crore

Avesh Khan (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 9.75 crore

Akash Deep (Indian): Base price INR 1 crore – Bid won INR 8 crore

David Miller (South Africa): Base price INR 1.5 crore – Bid won INR 7.50 crore

Abdul Samad (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 4.20 crore 

Mitchell Marsh (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 3.40 crore

Shahbaz Ahmed (Indian): Base price INR 1 crore – Bid won INR 2.40 crore

Aiden Markram (South African): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2 crore

Shamar Joseph (Guyanese): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 75 lakh

Manimaran Siddharth (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 75 lakh

Matthew Breetzke (South African): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 75 lakh

Arshin Kulkarni (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Digvesh Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Prince Yadav (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Yuvraj Chaudhary (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Akash Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Rajvardhan Hangargekar (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Aryan Juyel (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Himmat Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Full Squad

Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Matthew Breetzke.

Best Playing XI

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan

Indian cricketer KL Rahul finally opened up about his non-retention for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before the IPL 2025 mega auction. 

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, LSG bought KL Rahul. He was the captain of the team in their first three seasons. Rahul is the only LSG batter to score 1000 runs for the team. The right-handed batter scored 1410 runs in 38 games for the team with an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries. 

Last season, LSG finished in the seventh position, while they reached the playoffs and played Eliminators in their first two seasons.  

Although Rahul’s exit from the LSG team was highly expected, the decision is still hardly understandable.  

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

I wanted to explore my options: KL Rahul

Talking about Rahul’s exit from LSG, the former IPL skipper clarified that he wanted a fresh start and to explore other strong and suitable options in the game. 

Rahul told Star Sports, "I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options, and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom. Team atmosphere would be lighter; sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself, and I have been out of the T20 team for a while." 

My aim is obviously to get back into the T20 team: KL Rahul

Rahul last represented the Indian T20I side in November 2022, during the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against England. He openly admitted that he wanted to return to the T20I side. 

Rahul added, "I know where I stand as a player, and I know what I need to do to get back. I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to go back and enjoy my cricket. My aim is obviously to get back into the T20 team."

KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in the IPL 2021 when he was serving for Punjab Kings. While he was the second-most run-scorer in the IPL 2022, he was in seventh place in the IPL 2024 (Rahul missed almost half of the IPL 2023 due to injury). 

Since IPL 2017, Rahul is the leading run-scorer in IPL. It shows his consistent performances and strong dependable ability with the bat. Without any doubt, he will create an auction war between teams in the upcoming mega auction.