January 19, 2025: Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is set to be named the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, according to reports by ESPNcricinfo. Pant’s appointment comes after the Lucknow franchise decided not to retain former captain KL Rahul for the upcoming season, despite Rahul leading the team to the playoffs in both of their first two seasons.
Pant, who became the most expensive player in IPL history during the 2025 mega auction, was bought by LSG for a staggering Rs 27 crores, surpassing Shreyas Iyer’s recent bid of Rs 26.75 crores to Punjab Kings (PBKS). The bidding war for Pant was fierce, with LSG competing against teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), but LSG ultimately secured him. The franchise’s decision to make Pant the captain aligns with their significant investment in him.
Pant has had a stellar IPL career with Delhi Capitals, scoring 3,284 runs in 110 matches since his debut in 2016. He was appointed captain in 2021 and led Delhi to the playoffs in that season. Pant’s leadership and batting prowess make him a natural choice to lead LSG, which had a mixed season in IPL 2024, finishing 7th in the standings.
Ahead of the 2025 season, LSG also retained key players like Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and promising uncapped stars such as Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni. The Lucknow squad for IPL 2025 includes a mix of seasoned internationals and talented young players, with Pant leading the charge as they look to improve on their 2024 campaign.
Here’s a look at LSG’s squad for IPL 2025:
Batters: Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ayush Badoni (retained), Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke
Wicketkeepers: Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran (retained), Aryan Juyal
All-rounders: Abdul Samad (spin), Mitchell Marsh (pace), Shahbaz Ahmed (spin), Yuvraj Chaudhary (spin), Rajvardhan Hangargekar (pace), Arshin Kulkarni (pace)
Spinners: Ravi Bishnoi (retained), M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh
Fast bowlers: Mayank Yadav (retained), Mohsin Khan (retained), Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav
With Pant as captain and a strong, well-balanced squad, LSG will aim for a better performance in IPL 2025.
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