IPL 2025: Retaining five players, LSG stand to lose Rs 51 crore from the auction purse. (Sportzpics)
As expected KL Rahul is likely to enter the auction pool with Lucknow Super Giants deciding to go with a young core. It is understood that apart from retaining Nicholas Pooran, who can bat anywhere in the batting line-up, the franchise is likely to retain four other home players in Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni. They will now enter the auction with one Right to Match (RTM) option, unless they retain one more player.
While all things pointed out to Lucknow retaining only Pooran and Bishnoi, the franchise has decided to retain a core of promising Indian players. Pooran is set to be the top slot in retention, followed by Bishnoi, who the franchise signed before the auctions in 2022. Pacer Mayank will be third in the list followed by the two uncapped players Mohsin and Badoni.
Retaining five players, including two uncapped means, LSG stands to lose Rs 51 crore from the auction purse.
The franchise choosing to retain Pooran shouldn’t come as a surprise as the left-hander, apart from being a wicket-keeper, is capable of batting at the top of the order as well as in the middle. Over the last three years his stocks as a T20 batsman has only been increasing and in case he ended up at the IPL auction pool, was tipped to get the highest bid.
Similarly, Bishnoi has been one of LSG’s consistent performers. Apart from being economical, Bishnoi has even bowled at the death and has picked up 39 wickets in the last three IPL seasons.
As a far as Rahul it would be interesting to see where he lands up. Though his strike-rate has been in question, he remains a player of interest for many. There are indications that Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who are in need of a local face, may buy him back as they need a wicket-keeper batsman. Apart from being an option at the top, Rahul can also bat in the middle-order.
Similarly, even Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders could show interest in him as they are also in search of a wicketkeeper batsman.
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