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: SunRisers Hyderabad Seal Major Retentions
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Player Auction on the corner, the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) seems to have finalised deals with Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins and Heinrich Klaasen, as sources reported. These signings, though yet to be officially confirmed, are said to set SRH’s core for IPL 2025. Heinrich Klaasen Bags The Big Retention Deal For INR 23 Crore A fortune has been spent on Heinrich Klaasen by the franchise, and the hard-hitting South African wicket-keeper batsman has earned the right to be one of the most paid in the league with a rumoured contract of Rs 23-crore. Klaasen has been an impressive performer, racking nearly 1,000 runs in 35 IPL matches. His value to the franchise is unmistakable, and the staggering price reflects their faith in his game-changing abilities. Pat Cummins To Be Retained for INR 18 Crore Australia’s Pat Cummins, who led SRH to the India Premier League final last season, is likely to be retained for Rs 18 crore. Pat Cummins was bought at Rs 20.50 crore and remains an integral part of SRH’s leadership and bowling line-up. Abhishek Sharma To Be Retained For INR 14 Crore Meanwhile, young Indian sensation Abhishek Sharma has signed a Rs 14-crore deal after a blockbuster 2023 season, during which he has scored 484 runs in 16 matches with an incredible strike rate of over 200 while opening the innings. Who Else Are SRH Planning To Retain? Besides the above acquisitions, SRH is close to retaining Australian batter Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently got his India cap. IPL Retention And Auction Rules Under the new IPL retention rules, the franchises can retain up to six players, with a maximum allocation of Rs 79 crore out of a Rs 120-crore purse. The SRH’s bold moves will signal how well prepared they are to build a powerhouse team for IPL 2024 and hope for a deep run this time as well. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye