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

Indian wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant was the talk of the IPL Mega Auction 2025 as Lucknow Supergiants secured him for the whopping amount of 27 Crore, making him the most expensive buy in the IPL auction history.

Goenka shared that they had plans to buy Rishabh Pant

"We had structured the auction in a certain way and Pant was an integral part of our plans. We had done some budgeting for him. Look we could not get Bhuvneshwar Kumar and we went for Akash Deep. We wanted two Indian fast bowlers and we spent INR 9.75 crore on Avesh and INR 8 crore on Akash Deep. This was not about one individual player. Did we want to have the most expensive player? No. At the end of the day, this does not mean very much to the franchise. Eventually, it is about performance and how the team balance looks."

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 wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul has been purchased by Delhi Capitals for the price of RS. 14 Crore. There were too many questions raised about him in the last IPL season. Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru started the bids for KL Rahul. It was said that KL Rahul might come back to his former side Royal Challengers Bengaluru. But RCB didn't go after him and opted out even KKR as well. The only teams left behind him were Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings with CSK opting out it was almost confirmed that Delhi Capitals will get him. But as Lucknow Supergiants had an RTM Card it was asked if they might want to use it but they refused to use it. So, Delhi Capitals welcomed KL Rahul into their side.

KLassy entry toh banti hai boss 🙌😎 pic.twitter.com/1U9MIU94xb

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) November 24, 2024

KL Rahul in the IPL 2024 Season

Wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul had an average 2024 season as he scored 520 runs in 14 matches with an average of 37.14. He was able to score four half-centuries last season. Recently many questions were raised about his performance in white-ball format despite that Delhi Capitals backed him and bought him into the team. KL Rahul can bat at the top even if he can lead the side.

See Also:- Pant beats Shreyas to become most expensive player in IPL history

Lucknow Super Giants refused to use Right To Match (RTM) Card

The tension between KL Rahul and Lucknow Supergiants was raised when KL Rahul opted to enter into the auction ahead of the IPL Retention deadline. Lucknow Super Giants didn't look interested in buying back the skipper and even at the end when they were asked about using the Right To Match card they refused to use it on him.

Petition to officially call this the Chaat derby @DelhiCapitals?💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/gvCn4SxhNm

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) November 24, 2024

The Lucknow Super Giants admin on X (former Twitter) posted a meme about Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul switching the IPL teams.

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.

Just like Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) also made their IPL debut in the 2022 edition. LSG have announced the retained players for the IPL 2025. 

Although they haven’t played any final yet, LSG still have impressed in their early IPL journey. In their first two IPL seasons, LSG reached the Eliminators. Last season, LSG finished in the seventh position with the same points as the fourth place but a lesser net run rate. 

KL Rahul has been leading the team since their IPL debut. In his absence, Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran have led the team. 

Lucknow Super Giants’ player retention

Lucknow Super Giants retained five players, including three capped and two uncapped players, for INR 51 crore. At the IPL 2025 mega auction, LSG can spend the remaining INR 69 crore. 

(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

West Indies cricketer Nicholas Pooran has reportedly signed a new contract for the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Recently, the 29-year-old Caribbean cricketer Nicholas Pooran was in Kolkata to meet with the RPSG officials. While Cricbuzz confirmed this report, the cricket news website also claimed that the Caribbean cricketer could be the first official sign for the IPL 2025. 

The retention deadline is October 31. On that day, we can learn the retained players of each IPL team before the mega auction. 

LSG are unlikely to retain KL Rahul

The LSG team management is unlikely to retain the captain KL Rahul, who is the only batter to record 1000+ runs for the team. LSG played the Eliminators in their first two IPL seasons but finished in the seventh position in the IPL 2024. 

Although the LSG owner has claimed that Rahul is a family member, the unhappiness with the captain was publicly seen in the last season.

Nicholas Pooran's performances

Pooran is the fourth-most run-scorer for LSG, as he has scored 857 runs in 29 games with an average of 42.85 and a strike rate of 175.97. The left-handed Caribbean batter has hit five half-centuries. In the last IPL season, Pooran scored 499 runs with an average of 62.37 and a strike rate of 178.21, including three half-centuries. 

As Pooran is going to be the first sign for the LSG, his retention value can be INR 18 crore. However, the franchise can deal with him for lesser or higher salaries. 

An LSG official said, according to Cricbuzz, "Pooran is committed to LSG, possesses a winning mindset, thinks deep and above all he is adaptable to the batting order and any match situation.”

If LSG don’t retain KL Rahul, Pooran can be their next captain for the IPL 2025. 

According to the Cricbuzz report, capped players Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav and the uncapped players Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan can be the other retained names for the LSG. 

While KLRahul has been dropped from the Pune Test against New Zealand, there is more hard news for him. According to the recent ESPNcricinfo report, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are unlikely to retain their captain for the IPL 2025. It also means that he will participate in the upcoming mega auction. 

KL Rahul is the only batter to score 1000+ runs for Lucknow Super Giants as the right-handed batter scored 1410 runs in three IPL seasons with an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67. He has scored two centuries and 10 half-centuries for the team.

KL Rahul is a consistent performer as a batter

While LSG made their IPL debut in the 2022 season, Rahul was the second most run-scorer in the tournament with 616 runs in 15 matches with an average of 53.00 and a strike rate of 141.16. Under his captaincy, LSG reached the Eliminator round before Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminated them from the tournament. 

In the IPL 2023, Rahul missed out on the second half of the season due to an injury. In that season, LSG once again failed to win the Eliminator round, while Mumbai Indians beat them in that challenge.

LSG disappointed in the IPL 2024 as they finished in seventh place and failed to reach the playoffs. Captain KL Rahul was once again the leading run-scorer for LSG in that season by scoring 520 runs in 14 matches with an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.12. 

One of the major possible problems

In recent times, Rahul has been criticised for his poor strike rate and weak powerplay batting, which put pressure on the next batters in the shorter cricket format. In the IPL 2024, Rahul faced 86 dot balls in the powerplay, the second most dot balls faced in that IPL season. Overall, the right-handed batter faced 123 dot balls in that IPL season, the third most in the season. 

The LSG team management is reportedly unhappy with Rahul. After the end of the IPL 2024 match against the hosts SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka had a seeming argument with the skipper Rahul. In that match, SRH chased the 166-run target in 9.4 overs without losing any wickets. It was the time when the speculation started on Rahul’s doubtful future with LSG. 

Although Goenka later called Rahul a family, LSG is unlikely to retain Rahul before the IPL 2025 mega auction. The deadline for the players’ retention is October 31. 

The mega auction for the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner. Teams will be embroiled in an intense tussle to get their hands on star players. While some teams insist on preserving their loyal long-serving members, other teams most notably the RCB and LSG have broad ambitions and are more than willing to scout for fresh talent at the expense of their experienced guns. Rishab Pant is one such name that has attracted the attention of several IPL franchises. The 26-year-old swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman made his IPL debut with the now-defunct Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals) in 2016.

However, as per reports, Pant has put his name forward for the auction as it is believed that the Delhi-based outfit is willing to move on from him ahead of the next season. Many experts speculate that Pant had a series of discussions with the Delhi Capitals franchise and expressed his desire to lead the side. Unfortunately, his wish never materialized as he was informed that he was not the first choice for captaincy. This major reason may have caused Pant to part ways with them ahead of the next IPL season. 

The reason behind RCB's drive to acquire Pant 

Eyeing their maiden title, RCB are more than willing to secure the services of Rishab Pant who has been in prolific form in recent times. Pant brings with him an X-factor and has the ability to take the game from the opposition like no other. Following the exit of Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, the door is now left wide open for RCB to rope in a dynamic batter like Pant. He has been a star performer for India across all formats and can provide the franchise with a great deal of stability in the middle order. Moreover, with the departure of Faf, the possibility of assuming a leadership role for RCB is also open for Pant. It was initially believed that RCB had their eyes set on acquiring KL Rahul but now it looks evidently clear that they have more exciting options at their disposal.  

LSG & PBKS jostle to rope in Rishab Pant

Two other franchises apart from RCB have also shown keep interest in Rishab Pant ahead of the mega auction. Kl Rahul is all set to be relieved from LSG earlier next year. Once he is gone, LSG will be on the hunt for a reliable wicketkeeper option who can not only contribute with the bat and keep behind the stumps, but also lead the franchise to new heights. Pant with his leadership skills could give the Lucknow-based franchise just the edge they need to propel them to their maiden IPL title. On the other hand, PBKS are also reportedly hoping for Pant to join their side under a new head coach Ricky Ponting with whom he shares a special relationship.

Pant is part of the Indian squad in the ongoing 3-match Test series against the Black Caps. The ace wicketkeeper batter was last seen in action during the first Test in Bangalore where he played a match-reviving innings for his side and almost bailed them out of trouble. But his unfortunate demise on 99 in the second innings allowed the Kiwis to crawl back and take a 1-0 assailable lead.  

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant had an impressive IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs in 13 matches. Despite this the team doesn’t seem fully satisfied with the 26 year old’s performance.

Reports say that Rishabh Pant might be transferred from Delhi Capitals to Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction. According to Dainik Jagran, DC is debating whether to keep Pant or let him go due to concerns about his recent form.

There’s also a chance Pant could be traded to another team, but DC’s Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, appears interested in keeping him as captain.

Dhoni’s potential retirement and Its impact

If DC decides to release Pant he might join Chennai Super Kings. The team is looking for a wicketkeeper to potentially replace MS Dhoni if he retires from the IPL, and Pant is a top candidate for the job. Dhoni’s future in the IPL is uncertain with a chance he might not play in 2025.

Pant made a strong comeback this season after recovering from a car accident in December 2022. He scored 446 runs, including three half-centuries, and also played as India’s No. 3 batsman in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he scored 171 runs in eight matches.

RCB’s search for an Indian captain

Meanwhile, KL Rahul might leave Lucknow Super Giants after a three year period. Following a tough 10 wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka criticized Rahul, casting doubt on his future with the team.

Rahul could return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he played for in 2013 and 2016. Under Faf du Plessis RCB reached the IPL playoffs this season, but they were eliminated in the Eliminator by Rajasthan Royals. Reports suggest RCB is considering an Indian player as captain, and if Rahul joins he might take on that role.