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Rahul joined LSG for Rs 17 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auctions and has scored 1410 runs in 38 matches played for the franchise in the last three seasons.
Lucknow Super Giants made their IPL debut in 2022 and managed to finish in the top-four in the first two seasons. The Lucknow-based franchise had many top players in its ranks during the 2024 edition of the world’s richest franchise cricket league, but despite that, it failed to qualify for the playoffs under KL Rahul’s leadership. The team, which is coached by former Australian opener Justin Langer, who mentored Australia to the T20 World Cup title win in 2021, would like to keep hold of some of the key players from the 2024 squad ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions.
Here’s a look at six players LSG should retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions:
KL Rahul (18 crore): KL Rahul joined LSG for Rs 17 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auctions and was appointed as the captain of the franchise. The 32-year-old right-handed batter is LSG’s leading run scorer in IPL history, and he also topped the batting chart for the team in the 2022 and 2024 editions of the cash-rich league. There are question marks over his retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions, but for the kind of batter he is and what he can do when he is on song, he deserves to get retained by the Super Giants.
Nicholas Pooran (18 crore): LSG signed West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran for 16 crore ahead of the IPL 2023 auction, and in the last two seasons he has impressed with his performances. The left-handed batter, who holds the world record of scoring most T20 runs in a calendar year, hammered 499 runs with a strike rate of 178.21 in 14 matches of IPL 2024 for LSG and is a good captaincy option as well for the franchise if they want to relieve Rahul from the leadership duties.
Marcus Stoinis (14 crore): Stoinis has been associated with LSG since the 2022 edition of the cash-rich league, having joined them for Rs 11 crore from the Delhi Capitals. In the last three seasons of the IPL, the Australian all-rounder has scored 952 runs and picked up 13 wickets in 40 matches for the franchise. He is one of the best white-ball all-rounders in world cricket at the moment and was on fire for LSG in IPL 2024 and for Australia in T20 World Cup 2024.
Mayank Yadav (14 crore): Mayank Yadav made his IPL debut in 2024 and was only able to play four matches. But in those four games he impressed everyone with his speed, which is why he is almost certain to be retained by the Lucknow-based franchise.
Ravi Bishnoi (11 crore): Ravi Bishnoi was signed for Rs 4 crore by LSG ahead of IPL 2022 mega auctions. The former India U-19 cricketer, who has also reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I bowlers ranking last year, has picked up 39 wickets in 43 IPL matches for LSG, which is the most by any player for the franchise. Bishnoi is a very capable spinner and is an excellent fielder.
Ayush Badoni (4 crore): Ayush Badoni is an uncapped Indian cricketer who has done well in the last three seasons of IPL for LSG, and he can be retained for Rs 4 crore as well. Apart from his batting in the middle order, Badoni can contribute with his spin bowling, and he is an excellent fielder as well.