IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants Likely To Retain Five Players
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) confirmed that Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi are set to be retained for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The uncapped duo Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan will stay with the franchise as well. KL Rahul Remains Uncertain At Lucknow Super Giants KL Rahul is the skipper, however it might happen that the captain and player could both not be retained in case of drastic change on both ends. Thus, LSG would remain with just one RTM card available for auctioning. LSG’s Budget Although the retained players’ numbers have not been announced yet, the cut on the LSG budget is expected to be around INR 51 crores. In case the five retained players are more than the reported amount, the total cut will be made from the overall IPL 2025 purse of INR 120 crores. Nicholas Pooran: A Star Performer The sources indicate that Pooran would be the number one retainer, followed by Mayank and Bishnoi. During the 2024 season, Pooran was in excellent form as he finished only second to Rahul. He also served as the replacement captain and wicket-keeper during the injury times of Rahul. Pooran is a 29-year-old power-hitter who was bought by LSG for INR 16 crore before the 2023 season. His market value has gone through the roof since his IPL debut in 2017. Mayank Yadav’s Promising Start Mayank Yadav, for instance, is another highly talented fast bowler, who took two consecutive games as Player-of-the-Match in IPL 2024. He got short of playing just four games due to a side strain. He did find an entry into the group of fast bowlers formed by the national selectors sooner rather than later. INR 20 lakhs LSG spent to auction in 2024 but could play seven matches as many as the last International. Ravi Bishnoi: The Star Bowler Ravi Bishnoi, retained for INR 4 crore before the 2022 mega auction, has been an integral part of the LSG bowling unit. He took 13 wickets at a very decent average in 2022 and was again excellent the following year with 16 wickets, as he guided LSG to playoffs both seasons. But his season was a bit disappointing when he could manage only 10 wickets in 14 matches. Unrestricted Talents: Badoni and Mohsin Uncapped talents Badoni and Mohsin Khan, signed for INR 20 lakhs this year, are another such assets the franchise will also look to hold onto as long as possible. Last season, Badoni looked a force to be reckoned with as a new-age aggressive middle-order battler, scoring 238 runs at a strike-rate of 138, further impressing in the Emerging Series for India A. Mohsin, with raw left-arm fast-bowling talent, bowled his way to 14 scalps in just nine appearances in his first season with a franchise. Although he had a severe injury, he recovered successfully in 2023 and finished the 2024 season with 10 wickets in 10 matches. Future Outlook In the near future, with such smart retention, LSG will strengthen their team and perform well in IPL 2025. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025: Zaheer Khan Joins Lucknow Super Giants As Mentor
Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has signed up with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as their mentor for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He has filled in the shoes left vacant by the former captain of India and LSG’s mentor till 2023, Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir slipped into a similar role with KKR in IPL 2024 and currently is the head coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team. A Dual Role For Zaheer Khan Zaheer Khan brings loads of experience both as a player and in various coaching roles and will double up as the bowling coach following the departure of Morne Morkel, who joined Gambhir’s coaching staff with the Indian team. Asked about his bowling coach role during a media interaction, Zaheer did not confirm it but just smiled and said, “If I am there in the set-up, does the team need another bowling coach?“ Zaheer Khan’s IPL Resume Zaheer played his grossest season in the Indian Premier League back in the year 2008 for the Mumbai Indians and then for RCB and Daredevils amassing 102 wickets from 100 games at an economy of 7.58. Since his retirement from the game in the year 2017, he has gone on to serve the Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 in the dual role of director of cricket and then head of global development. Building for the future With Justin Langer at the helm, along with his assistants Lance Klusener and Adam Voges, LSG is getting ready for the mega auction. Zaheer Khan is expected to play an important role in off-season scouting and player development as they build on an excellent start in the IPL. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025: KL Rahul To Potentially Move From RCB To LSG
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for its mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, the rumor mill is abuzz with speculations that could reshape the landscape of the tournament. One of the most intriguing whispers making the rounds is the potential move of KL Rahul from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Rahul’s Stint with LSG: A Rocky Ride KL Rahul’s journey with LSG has been marked by ups and downs. Despite his talent and leadership qualities, his tenure with the franchise has not been as smooth as expected. Reports of a strained relationship with the franchise owner had surfaced after a heated post-match discussion between the two went viral during IPL 2024 after KL Rahul and his LSG were put to the sword by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This tension, coupled with the team’s inconsistent performance, has led to speculation that Rahul might be seeking a fresh start. The RCB Connection: A Homecoming for Rahul? The prospect of KL Rahul returning to RCB has created a buzz among fans and analysts. Rahul, who has a strong connection with Bangalore, having played for the franchise earlier in his career, is seen as a perfect fit for RCB’s ambitions. His familiarity with the Chinnaswamy Stadium and the local fan base adds an emotional element to this potential move. Leadership at RCB: A New Era? If the move materializes, Rahul is likely to take over the captaincy from Faf du Plessis. While Du Plessis has led RCB to the playoffs two out of three times, his advancing age (40) might be a factor for the team management to consider a change in leadership. Rahul, with his experience of leading both LSG and Punjab Kings (PBKS), brings a wealth of knowledge and tactical acumen to the table. Rahul’s Impact: A Power Move for RCB For RCB, acquiring KL Rahul would be a powerful move. His ability to anchor the innings while also accelerating the scoring rate makes him a valuable asset. Most importantly, Rahul’s leadership could provide the stability and strategic vision needed for RCB to finally secure their maiden IPL trophy. The IPL never ceases to surprise and the upcoming season promises to be no different. Whether KL Rahul dons the RCB jersey once again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, the IPL 2025 season is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, with major potential player movements the buzz is on. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
KL Rahul’s ‘Dinner Date’ With Boss Sanjeev Goenka; Wife Athiya’s Cryptic Post – What’s Cooking at LSG?
KL Rahul’s wife and Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty‘s cryptic Instagram post got the attention of the cricket fraternity. Especially after what transpired between her husband and Lucknow Super Giants boss Sanjeev Goenka last week in Hyderabad . After LSG was hammered by Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 wickets, captain KL Rahul and owner Sanjeev Goenka were seen involved in an animated and what looked like a dressing down from a distance. While Goenka appeared animated, KL Rahul remained calm. Just after Athiya posted a photo on her Instagram story showing sunlight breaking through thick clouds onto the sea, captioning it, “The calm after the storm” KL Rahul was clicked hugging the LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka as the former was invited for a dinner at Goenka’s residence. WHAT WAS ON ATHIYA’S INSTAGRAM STORY?https://www.instagram.com/stories/athiyashetty/3367054376088753100?igsh=MW9jdWUwY2lieTR0ZQ== However the question remains, did the story seem to relate to the IPL incident that had gone viral recently? Or is it better to assume that it’s all well at the LSG camp? TWITTER REACTIONS THE CAPTAIN-OWNER SAGAThe discussion between KL Rahul and Sanjeev Goenka happened after the Lucknow Super Giants suffered a heavy defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 8 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The video of their conversation quickly spread online and received criticism for lacking grace in handling the situation. Some also believed that Goenka, being an owner could have handled the situation better by having a chat in closed doors rather in the public and in front of hundreds of cameras leading to a massive sense of disagreement on the way the team owners have started treating their team members. It’s a straight shoot-out between the Lucknow Super Giants and the hosts Delhi Capitals. Only one team can head towards the playoffs after today’s game. But here’s the tricky part: Even a win by a massive margin for either of LSG and DC won’t guarantee a playoffs berth to both of them. However, if they lose, they’re definitely out of the tournament. With 12 points on the board, LSG must win today in Delhi and also needs to win their upcoming game in Mumbai to reach 16 points. At the same time, for LSG to qualify, CSK and SRH must not reach 16 points as both the teams have better net run rates than LSG. DO YOU KNOW THE OTHER TEAM OWNERS AT IPL 2024? TEAM TEAM OWNER OWNER BUSINESS Mumbai Indians Mukesh Ambani Reliance Industry Rajasthan Royals Manoj Badale Blenheim Chalcot Sunrisers Hyderabad Kalanithi Maran Sun TV Network Delhi Capitals Parth Jindal GMR Group and JSW Group Royal Challengers Bengaluru – United Spirits Ltd. Punjab Kings Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, and Karan Paul – Chennai Super Kings N Srinivasan Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited & India Cements Kolkata Knight Riders Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla & Jay Mehta Red Chillies Entertainment & Mehta Group Lucknow Super Giants Dr Sanjiv Goenka RP Sanjiv Goenka Group Gujarat Titans – CVC Capital Partners There are rumors that KL Rahul would step down from the post of LSG Captain for the remainder of games in the ongoing IPL. After Athiya Shetty’s viral post, all is certainly not well, between the boss and the captain. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye.
