File photo of Mayank Yadav

LSG Full Squad, IPL 2025: LSG roped in pacer Akash Deep for Rs 8 crore on Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On Day 1, LSG made the biggest purchase of the IPL 2025 mega auction, as they broke the bank for Rishabh Pant, setting an IPL record price of Rs 27 crore. They also roped in the likes of David Miller and Avesh Khan for good money, and head into Day 2 with a strong squad. Owner Sanjiv Goenka spoke about the need to fill a gap or two after Day 1 of the auction, and LSG will have an auction purse of Rs 14.85 cr at the start of Day 2 to make those moves. (Full Squad)

Full list of players bought at auction:

1. Rishabh Pant – Rs 27 crore

2. Aiden Markram – Rs 2 crore

3. David Miller – Rs 7.5 crore

4. Mitchell Marsh – Rs 3.4 crore

5. Avesh Khan – Rs 9.75 crore

6. Abdul Samad – Rs 4.2 crore

7. Aryan Juyal – Rs 30 lakh

8. Akash Deep – Rs 8 crore

9. Himmat Singh – Rs 30 lakh

10. M Siddharth – Rs 75 lakh

11. Digvesh Singh – Rs 35 lakh

12. Shahbaz Ahmed – Rs 2.4 crore

13. Akash Singh – Rs 30 lakh

14. Shamar Joseph – Rs 75 lakh

15. Prince Yadav – Rs 30 lakh

16. Yuvraj Chaudhary – Rs 30 lakh

17. Rajvardhan Hangargekar – Rs 30 lakh

18. Arshin Kulkarni – Rs 30 lakh

19. Matthew Breetzke – Rs 75 lakh

Full list of retained players: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni

Full list of released players: KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, Ashton Turner, Deepak Hooda, Krishnappa Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Prerak Mankad, Yudhvir Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, David Willey, Shivam Mavi, Shamar Joseph, Matt Henry, Yash Thakur, Amit Mishra, Naveen ul Haq, M Siddharth

LSG Full Squad, IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant on Sunday etched his name in history books, becoming the most expensive buy ever in the history of the IPL auction. Pant was bought by Rs LSG for a shattering sum of Rs 27 crore. LSG were in a bidding war with RCB and DC, who had released the player ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. DC tried to use RTM on Pant when LSG had the bid on Rs 20.75 crore. However, LSG made a final counter bid of Rs 27 crore, which DC couldn’t match. As a result, Pant became the most expensive player, surpassing PBKS’ bid of Rs 26.75 crore for Shreyas Iyer earlier in the same auction. (Full Squad)

LSG also bolstered their squad by the notable signings of Aiden Markram, David Miller, Mitchell Marsh and Avesh Khan.

Full list of players bought at auction:

1. Rishabh Pant – Rs 27 crore

2. Aiden Markram – Rs 2 crore

3. David Miller – Rs 7.5 crore

4. Mitchell Marsh – Rs 3.4 crore

5. Avesh Khan – Rs 9.75 crore

6. Abdul Samad – Rs 4.2 crore

7. Aryan Juyal – Rs 30 lakh

Full list of retained players: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni

Full list of released players: KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, Ashton Turner, Deepak Hooda, Krishnappa Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Prerak Mankad, Yudhvir Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, David Willey, Shivam Mavi, Shamar Joseph, Matt Henry, Yash Thakur, Amit Mishra, Naveen ul Haq, M Siddharth

Concerns arose when the BCCI announced on October 25 that speedster Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut in the T20Is against Bangladesh, would miss India’s four-match series against South Africa scheduled from November 8-15, due to injury. Sources have told IANS that Mayank, who took four wickets in India’s 3-0 series victory against Bangladesh, is likely to be sidelined for a few months because of a back problem. Mayank is currently at the BCCI’s newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

“He’s back here for another problem, which might keep him out for two-three months. Mostly its something related to the back, but there’s not much clarity into it. But then, it’s also something which is believed to keep him out for a considerable amount of time.

“The way with which he came here, the first feelers from it are giving a look of him being out for two-three months initially and maybe, it could be more,” said the source to IANS.

Mayank, who hails from Delhi’s renowned Sonnet Cricket Club, underwent extensive rehab and worked on regaining match fitness at the CoE (formerly the NCA) following a lower abdominal strain he suffered while playing for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024.

In that competition, he caught everyone’s attention by bowling rapid three-wicket spells with impressive accuracy and maintaining speeds above 150kmph. Mayank has faced challenges in his cricketing journey due to injuries in the past.

He missed IPL 2023 for LSG due to a torn hamstring injury sustained in a practice session ahead of the tournament and had to miss 2023/24 Ranji Trophy entirely because of another injury, for which he underwent rehabilitation in Mumbai.

With the IPL retentions deadline coming on October 31, Mayank is a strong contender to be one of the five players retained by LSG, who acquired him for INR 20 lakhs in the auction before the 2022 season.

He caught the attention of the franchise when their then assistant coach, Vijay Dahiya, observed him prior to the Delhi-Haryana match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at Sector 16 Stadium in Chandigarh in December 2021.

Australia’s fast-bowling great Brett Lee said if India wish to win this year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, they need pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and a recovering Mohammed Shami in top form. While Bumrah and Siraj have been consistently turning out for India, Shami has not played competitive cricket since last year’s ODI World Cup at home due to recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, which needed surgery in London this year.

Shami, who had a strapping on his left knee when bowling in a session after India lost the Bengaluru Test to New Zealand by eight wickets, is likely to feature first in Ranji Trophy to assess his fitness and preparedness before playing the all-important Test series in Australia.

“Mohammed Shami has to be fit if India want to win over here. We all know how good a bowler Bumrah is. He is a guy who can shape the ball both ways and I think he will bowl extremely well. He is great with the old ball. He is a great exponent of reverse swing.

“Mohammed Siraj gets that new ball to talk and when he presents that seam upright, he gets it shape away, and that is where Australia can get in trouble and nick off, especially on these wickets like Perth, like Adelaide, that can be conducive to fast bowling.

“For me, it is that combination. It is those three fast bowlers plus (Ravichandran) Ashwin, the spinner. Then they have guys who are part-time spinners to play a role. But you have to have those three quicks firing if India want to win,” said Lee on Fox Cricket’s ‘The Follow On’ podcast.

Lee also believes in case Shami is not ready in time to play Tests in Australia, India can go in with young speedster Mayank Yadav, the breakout start from IPL 2024 who made his T20I debut against Bangladesh this month. Yadav is also one of the tour traveling reserves for the Indian team in their ongoing Test series against New Zealand.

“The great thing about India is that they are not worried about how much cricket someone has played, how much they haven’t played. It is a bit like a Sam Konstas – if he is ready to go, get him (Mayank Yadav) in there – and I actually love that theory.

“One thing I can promise you is that batsmen are OK around that 135km to 140km an hour mark. It is when they are bowling high 150s — I don’t care who it is — no-one wants to face fast bowling over 150km/h. Yes, you can be a little bit erratic. Yes, you can bowl short and wide and get punished.

“But he looks as though he has the complete package. He is fresh and raw. But I would be inclined to go with him if Mohammed Shami is not ready. At least get him in the squad. Get him around the team and if something happens and he presents himself, he might get that opportunity and I think he would do pretty well on these Australian wickets,” he said.

Ramandeep Singh and Vijaykumar Vyshak earned maiden India call-ups on Friday as the BCCI announced squad for an upcoming T20I tour of South Africa. Pacer Mayank Yadav, who recently made his India debut during the T20I series against Bangladesh, has not been included in the squad for the trip to South Africa, owing to an injury. “Mayank Yadav and Shivam Dube were unavailable for selection owing to injuries,” the BCCI said in a release.

All-rounder Riyan Parag was also unavailable for selection. As per BCCI’s release, the is currently at The BCCI Centre of Excellence for long term resolution of his chronic right shoulder injury.

Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side, while the BCCI didn’t name any designated vice-captain for the four-match series.

The series will get underway on November 8, while the final game will be on the 14th of November. The matches will be played in four different venues — Durban, Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively.

There was no place in the squad for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is expected to lead India ‘A’ during their upcoming tour of Australia.

Meanwhile, Ramandeep’s inclusion comes on the back of his stellar performance in the ongoing ACC T20 Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. However, India’s campaign came to an end after a defeat to Afghanistan in the semi-finals.

Along with the T20I squad, the BCCI also named the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, starting November 22. Three uncapped Test players Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana and Abhimanyu Easwaran are in line for their long-format debut. Since India are scheduled to play five Tests, the BCCI has named a big travelling contingent, also comprising of three reserve players.

India’s squad for 4 T20Is against South Africa: 

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.

Mayank Yadav should be on the plane to Australia if Mohammed Shami is not available for selection, asserted Brett Lee, one of the most devastatingly destructive bowlers, who has high hopes from the Indian pace sensation on the true, bouncy wickets Down Under. Aiming to qualify for a third successive World Test Championship (WTC) final, India will be travelling to Australia next month to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and doubts remain over seasoned seamer Shami’s selection in the squad for the five-match Test series. “I can tell you that batters are okay when you bowl that 135-140 kmph speed, but when you bowl high 150s, I don’t care who it is, no one wants to face that.”

“He looks like someone who is a complete package, if Mohammed Shami is not ready, at least get him (Mayank) in the squad. I think he would do pretty well on these Australian wickets,” Lee told Fox Cricket.

Shami has not played since featuring in the final of the ODI World Cup last November, and even though he went full tilt at the nets recently, India skipper Rohit Sharma is averse to taking an “undercooked” version of the seamer to Australia.

Former Aussie pacer Lee knows a thing or two about batters’ discomfort while standing up to express pace.

Lee said, “The great thing is with me that I get to work on the IPL and see a lot of good young Indian cricketers. Mayank Yadav, to watch his first IPL game recently, hit 157 kmph first up in his first game.

“Unfortunately, his franchise probably brought him a little early and he did his side again.

“They put him in cotton wool for a bit. The great thing about India is that they are not worried about how much cricket someone has played or hasn’t played, if he is ready to go, get him in there. I actually love that theory,” Lee added.

India boast of a world-class bowling attack that can trouble the Australian batters in their own den, and Lee acknowledged that.

“Ashwin is approaching 600 wickets, he has got that beautiful shape when he bowls spin. He can bowl with the new ball as well but I think if India have to win there, then Shami (provided he is fit) can definitely hold the key.

“Jasprit Bumrah, we all know how good he is, he can bowl both ways, he is a great exponent of reverse swing. Mohammed Siraj knows how to make the new ball talk.

“On wickets like Perth, Adelaide, for me it’s the combination, these three fast bowlers with Ashwin as the spinner. Then they have got options with guys like who are part-time spinners. But you need to have those three quicks firing if India wants to win,” Lee said.

‘India don’t want to bow down’

Lee described the Indian team as a “powerhouse that don’t want to bow down” to anyone, cautioning his compatriots who will take on the Asian giants from November 22.

Lee’s remarks came after India’s eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the Bengaluru Test earlier this week.

“This day and age, India is a powerhouse that don’t want to bow down. They know how to win, and they know they can beat Australia; they know they can beat the Kiwis. They know they can beat anyone on any given day,” Lee said.

Commenting on India’s outing in the Bengaluru Test against the Kiwis, Lee felt that they might have got influenced by ‘Bazball’, leading to playing some loose shots.

“India just didn’t go into their shell. Maybe it’s Bazball brushing off on other cricketers around the world,” he noted.

“I know that India won’t be proud of the way they played. They played some pretty loose shots.” India’s decision to bat first in overcast conditions raised eyebrows, as the team was bowled out for 46 in the first innings of the opening Test, its lowest Test score at home.

Lee said the side needs to “weigh up the risk factor” and added the Indians should have judged the conditions better.

“But, you’ve got to weigh up the risk factor as well. There are times when you’ve got to go, ‘Okay, well, maybe the big shots aren’t working today’.

“Maybe, just rein it in a little bit. I don’t think they sort of summed up the conditions as quickly as what they should have done,” Lee said.

India play two more Tests against New Zealand — Pune (October 24-28) and Mumbai (November 1-5) — before leaving for Australia.

Murali Kartik handing T20I debut cap to Mayank Yadav© BCCI/Sportzpics

India skipper Rohit Sharma said on Tuesday that the team is blessed with a strong pool of batters and he wants to build a similar stock in pace bowling so that injuries stop having a bearing on the side’s balance. Rohit’s comments come in the backdrop of delayed recovery of senior pacer Mohammed Shami and a shoulder injury to left-arm quick Yash Dayal, who was drafted into the India squad for the recent series against Bangladesh.

“When it comes to batting, there are a lot of options. We want to create the same in bowling as well. We want to create bench strength where tomorrow if anything happens to anyone, we are not worried,” Rohit said on the eve of the first Test against New Zealand here.

“We don’t want to heavily reliant on a few individuals. That is not the right thing to do. We want to look at the future and try and make sure we get the right guys in as well,” he added.

So, it was not surprising to see India naming pacers Mayank Yadav, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Prasidh Krishna as travelling reserves for the series against the Black Caps which comprises three Tests.

“Mayank has shown what he can do. But we want to be careful with him. He had a lot of injuries in the past, so we want to progress him not rapidly. Just see how he is every day, try to build his workloads with the red ball. For us, it is to build them gradually rather than getting them straight into international cricket,” said Rohit.

However, Prasidh’s availability to travel with the squad is subject to him getting fitness clearance from the NCA after suffering an unspecified injury during Karnataka’s opening Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh at Indore.

That apart, Rohit explained why the Indian think-tank wanted those young pacers to be around the senior side.

“So tomorrow, if we feel like they are ready to take that role (replacing an injured pacer), they should be ready for it. They have obviously played a few games before we made this announcement.

“They have played the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy as well. So, we just want to make sure that they are monitored quite well. Their workloads have been taken care of,” said Rohit.

The Mumbaikar said such a step was mandatory because Test cricket is a different beast compared to white ball formats, and the bowlers will take time to adjust to it.

“In the short period of time, they have shown they have ability as well. We want to keep them with the team and see whether they will be ready for international cricket or not.

“Especially Test cricket because Test cricket is a different ball game compared to white ball cricket. We want to see what they can offer us,” he noted.

Pitchforking a young bowler to the senior squad, Rohit said, will give the team management an opportunity to understand their cricketing psyche and thoughts about Test cricket.

“Sometimes you have to fast-track someone. That is only in the betterment of Indian cricket. We want to create guys where even if there are injuries, we have someone to quickly step in and take that role. Nitish (Reddy) and Harshit (Rana) both are talented individuals.

“In the future, they are going to provide a lot of stability. So, it’s always nice to just have them around and see their mindset,” said Rohit.

The four travelling reserves will have more opportunity to play international cricket when they travel to South Africa for a bilateral T20I series, and from there they will rejoin the Indian Test squad in Australia.

India’s Predicted XI vs Bangladesh 3rd T20I: Sanju Samson in action© AFP