File image of LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka. (Screengrab via LSG’s X account)
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were among those teams that let their captain from the previous Indian Premier League season depart as the franchise chose to let KL Rahul go into the auction pool while retaining Nicolas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan.
LSG’s decision to let Rahul walk away from the team was not particularly surprising.
LSG will go into the IPL 2025 auction with a purse of Rs 69 crore after spending Rs 51 crore to keep hold of five players at the IPL retention deadline.
Sanjiv Goenka, LSG’s owner, was straightforward when he revealed the reasons why their decided to retain certain players and let others go.
“Keeping it simple was the key.”
With @LucknowIPL announcing their retentions for #IPL2025, #LSG owner #SanjivGoenka shares insights into the thinking behind their picks
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“The first retention was an automatic choice and happened within two minutes, that is Nicholas Pooran. We had a very simple mindset to go in with players who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and aspirations. And we wanted to retain as much core as possible within our available purse. We had a strong bowling unit, that’s why we went with three bowlers [Bishnoi, Mayank and Mohsin] from the previous season and all Indians. Pooran was a no-brainer. Ayush [Badoni] has done well for us at No. 6 and No. 7,” LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka said.
The team will be among the handful of sides including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Delhi Capitals who will have to make a decision on which player they will elevate to a captaincy position after letting their exiting skippers walk away in the IPL retention window.
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina, talking on JioCinema about LSG’s retentions and auction plans, said: “With Zaheer Khan joining the team management, they have backed fast bowlers. They might look to bring back Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, and Yash Thakur, obviously for his beautiful yorkers. For the IPL 2024 auction, they will look for explosive all-rounders, someone who can complement Nicholas Pooran. They’ve tried Hooda, but let’s see what they plan for the auctions. I feel they might use their RTM card for Stoinis.”
