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

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are gearing up for the 2025 Indian Premier League season by retaining their core squad, who were pivotal to their recent successes. Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi are the three players set to be retained by the franchise. The source privy to the development also confirmed to IANS that Pooran will be the front-runner to lead the side in the IPL 2025. Pooran, an explosive batsman and versatile wicketkeeper, emerged as the star for LSG.

“The franchise is ready to show their trust in Pooran. He captained last year too and carries a vast experience of leading his national side too. So we will be continuing with his skills. Apart from him, we are going with spearhead pacer Mayank Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi,” a source close to the franchise told IANS.

Signed for Rs 16 crore in 2023, Pooran quickly became one of the highest-paid players in the league, showcasing his power-hitting ability and leadership skills during Rahul’s absence last season.

Pooran, 29, has enjoyed a steep rise since his IPL debut, where his price tag jumped from Rs 30 lakh with Mumbai Indians in 2017 to over Rs 16 crore with LSG, after a competitive bidding process against his former franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Mayank Yadav, a fast-bowling sensation, has caught the selectors’ attention with his 150 km/h deliveries and explosive performances in his debut season. Despite an injury that limited him to only four matches in IPL 2024, his rapid ascent led to a national call-up and inclusion at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence. Mayank’s journey began when LSG picked him for a modest Rs 20 lakh, yet his impact has already set him apart in India’s pace lineup.

LSG’s core bowling lineup is further strengthened with Ravi Bishnoi, the talented leg-spinner, who was retained in the 2022 mega auction as an uncapped player. Over the seasons, Bishnoi has evolved into a match-winner for LSG, known for his reliable economy and wicket-taking ability, helping LSG reach the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. Despite a slightly quieter 2024 season, Bishnoi remains an integral part of LSG’s bowling attack.

Apart from these three players, the other two likely retentions are Mohsin Khan–the tall young left-arm pacer and middle-order explosive batter Ayush Badoni.

As previously reported by IANS, LSG captain KL Rahul is likely to enter the mega auction instead of being retained by the franchise.

Gautam Gambhir was appointed the new Indian cricket team head coach as Rahul Dravid‘s tenure came to an end following the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. Gambhir, who is well known for his passionate and disciplinarian approach to coaching, was the mentor of Lucknow Super Kings in 2022 and 2023 before joining Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 – a partnership that resulted in the IPL 2024 title win. Following the announcement, LSG shared a spoof video showing Gambhir’s first practice session as the Indian cricket team head coach. The video featured old footage from the time when he was a part of the franchise and also a special appearance from fast bowler Mohsin Khan.

Kursi ki peti bandhne ka waqt aa gaya haipic.twitter.com/e1RkagVWx0

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) July 10, 2024

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as the next head coach was hailed by the Indian cricket fraternity, which has no doubts whatsoever that he would make the country “proud”.

Less than two weeks after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended on a high, winning the T20 World Cup, India’s first global title after 11 years, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach on expected lines.

The BCCI had approached him after he won the IPL title for KKR after 10 years, returning as mentor this season. Gambhir was also the two-time IPL winning skipper for KKR in 2012 and 2014.

The announcement was merely a formality after National Cricket Academy chief VVS Laxman expressed his unwillingness to take the hot seat.

His IPL franchise made an AI-generated image of Gambhir in a BCCI suit, staring at the KKR jersey lying on the table with the IPL silverware.

The wall had the photos of their wins in 2012 and 2014, while TV flashed the news of his appointment as Gambhir stood near a packed suitcase.

Team India jerseys were also seen hanging in the wardrobe.

KKR captioned the photo with an old quote of Gambhir: “There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team.” Team CEO Venky Mysore also reposted it with his message: “Very proud of you Gambhir. No doubt you will make India proud.” Gambhir’s era will begin with a white-ball series in Sri Lanka. India will play three ODIS and as many T20Is beginning on July 27.

“Few have seen the road from playing for India to coaching India. Yours has been a journey that I’ve had the privilege of seeing up close – all the hard yards that you’ve had to cross. So well deserved Gambhir. Make us proud, once again,” former India pacer RP Singh posted on X.

(With IANS inputs)