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After retaining Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan for the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are looking to get back a few players from their previous edition squad in the IPL 2025 mega auction, which is set to take place later this month.
The Head Coach of the Lucknow-based franchise, Justin Langer opened up on the possibility of getting a few players back into the side, hinting at re-signing their skipper and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. It is to be noted that LSG released KL Rahul before the team submitted its list of retentions with the IPL General Council setting October 31 as the deadline day.
We are hoping to pick up as many of our players as possible from last year: Justin Langer
Speaking in a video shared by LSG on social media, Head Coach Justin Langer spoke of the possibility of getting back some of their key players from IPL 2024. “We are really pleased with announcing the four of the most talented Indian players in the country at the moment. We are setting a base for those strong Indian players -- Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan -- four incredibly talented players and I'm excited about that," Langer said.
"Nicholas Pooran is a dynamic player in world cricket and we can't wait to see him in action again. We have got one more Right To Match (RTM) and we are hoping to pick up as many of our players as possible from last year in the auction. Mr Goenka has thought long and hard about this and like I have said, we have talked over and over all the possibilities," the former Australia opener added.
Speaking of KL Rahul, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter has been the captain of the side since its existence in 2022. However, he will now go into the IPL 2025 mega auction, he led the side to finish seventh in the IPL 2024. Talking of the five retentions by the franchise which includes four Indians and Nicholas Pooran as the only overseas player, the side will aim to build a quality side with a purse of INR 69 Crore.
The West Indies batter was retained for a whopping INR 21 Crore, the joint second most paid to a player in this retention cycle along with Virat Kohli, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav and Ayush Badoni were all retained for a sum of INR 11 Crore. Whereas Mohsin Khan bagged INR 4 Crore.
