Published By: Sanchari Das

IPL Auction 2025: Curious About the Perfect Starting XI? Here’s Our Pick for Lucknow Super Giants!

Lucknow Super Giants combine youth, experience, and firepower in the quest for IPL 2025 glory

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah on November 24-25 saw Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) make history. With 577 players available, LSG stunned everyone by buying Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, the highest bid in IPL history. Releasing KL Rahul, they retained core players like Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crore), and Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore). On day one, LSG focused on marquee names, including Pant. The second day was quieter, with the franchise bolstering its bench strength through economical signings. LSG's calculated strategy hints at their intent to clinch their maiden IPL title.

A balanced squad for success

Lucknow Super Giants' IPL 2025 squad perfectly combines experience and youth. The franchise's leadership strategy will be key—whether they entrust the captaincy to Rishabh Pant or stick with Nicholas Pooran's experience. Alongside marquee signing Rishabh Pant, LSG acquired overseas stars like David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram—all proven captains for their national teams. The retained core includes explosive batter Nicholas Pooran and promising pacers like Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan. All-rounders Shahbaz Ahmed and Akash Deep add versatility to the lineup. The squad looks well-rounded, with depth in batting, pace in bowling, and reliable spinners like Ravi Bishnoi. The team's mix of marquee names and promising talents sets them up for a strong season.

Explosive openers to set the tone

LSG's opening pair for IPL 2025 will likely feature Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh. Markram's elegance and ability to anchor innings provide stability at the top. Complementing him is the hard-hitting Mitchell Marsh, who excels in taking advantage of powerplay overs with aggressive stroke play. They balance consistency and aggression, ensuring a strong start in most games. Their contrasting styles will also allow flexibility, depending on match conditions. As experienced T20 campaigners, both players aim to provide a solid platform for the middle order to capitalise on.

A fearless middle-order

The middle order, featuring Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, and Ayush Badoni, is LSG's backbone. Pooran, who amassed 499 runs last season, is a proven match-winner. Rishabh Pant, the auction's star pick, will bring his fearless batting and game-changing abilities. David Miller, known for his calm presence under pressure, adds experience and stability. Ayush Badoni, a rising talent, provides youthful exuberance in crunch moments. This mix of explosive hitters and reliable finishers ensures that LSG can easily handle any match scenario and chase down daunting targets.

A versatile bowling attack

LSG's bowling lineup is both versatile and formidable. The pace attack, led by Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Mohsin Khan, offers speed and accuracy. Mayank, clocking 156.7 km/h, is a significant threat to batters. Ravi Bishnoi's sharp leg-spin is invaluable in middle overs, while Shahbaz Ahmed adds depth with his all-round capabilities. Akash Deep and Rajvardhan Hangargekar provide reliable backups. LSG's bowling unit has depth, flexibility, and match-winning potential, and Abdul Samad and Mohsin Khan are available as impact players. This well-rounded attack is ready to tackle any batting lineup in IPL 2025.

LSG IPL 2025 squad

Lucknow Super Giants have assembled a diverse and balanced squad for IPL 2025. The roster includes Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, and Matthew Breetzke.

Our prediction for the playing XI

Aiden Markram

Mitchell Marsh

Rishabh Pant (C)

Ayush Badoni

Nicholas Pooran

David Miller

Shahbaz Ahmed

Ravi Bishnoi

Mohsin Khan

Mayank Yadav

Avesh Khan

Impact player: Akash Deep