Six Players Lucknow Super Giants Should Retain: Lucknow Super Giants, like Gujarat Titans, had two solid seasons in the IPL to start, only to fall off in 2024. Under captain KL Rahul, the team failed to make it to the playoffs last season. This team has a lot of match-winners in all-rounders, but their abilities have been nerfed by the Impact Player rule, affecting this team as a whole.
The IPL 2025 retention rules allow for teams to retain six players at most, five of which can be capped while a maximum of two can be uncapped. There is no limit to overseas players in capped retentions. It should also be noted that if a team does not use up all of its retention slots, they can use Right To Match (RTM) for one of their players in the auction. This also means that multiple players in this list can instead be retained via RTM.
Looking to win the title for the first time, the Lucknow Super Giants will likely want to build a team from almost scratch, possibly changing the team’s on-field identity in the process.
Here are six players Lucknow Super Giants should retain for IPL 2025.
Six Players Lucknow Super Giants Should Retain
1) KL Rahul – 18 Crore
Kl Rahul is proper IPL royalty. One of the most consistent batters in league history, Rahul has had some of the best seasons in the history of the IPL as a batter. On several occasions, he has had to carry weak teams to decent results.
Except for the injury-riddled 2023 season, KL Rahul has not had a season where he scored below 500 runs since 2018. Naturally, he is the highest run scorer in Lucknow Super Giants history. But he also holds that record for the Punjab Kings franchise as well.
A proven IPL captain and a top-class batter. LSG built their team around Rahul last time around, and it was a successful experiment for a new franchise. The Super Giants would be wise to hitch their rides to KL Rahul once again.
2) Marcus Stoinis – 14 Crore
One of the few all-rounders who has been able to maintain his productivity with bat and ball after the introduction of the Impact Player rule. Marcus Stoinis was drafted by the Lucknow Super Giants all the way back in 2022 when the franchise was new. In the three seasons since the Aussie has scored 952 runs and taken 13 wickets for the franchise.
An explosive batter, Stoinis has the ability to flip the script of a match all on his own. He has won several matches for his nation and his franchise over the years from a losing position. He is also a fine medium-pace allrounder and is a handy bowler, especially in the middle overs.
While the Impact Player rule has reduced the use and need of all-rounders in the IPL, Marcus Stoinis can make any T20 team in the world based on his batting alone. And his bowling doesn’t hurt either.
Check Out: Six Players Lucknow Super Giants Should Retain
3) Naveen Ul Haq – 11 Crore
Naveen Ul Haq is a sign of the growth of Afghanistan cricket over the last decade. From having only a couple of stars on the international level to now the whole team garnering fame all over the world. Naveen Ul Haq is a part of the nation’s new line of pace bowlers who are actually world-class, taking Afghanistan away from being just a spin bowling country.
In the two seasons for the Lucknow Super Giants, Naveen has taken 26 wickets. While his antics outside of cricket might have taken centre stage on occasion, no one can argue that Naveen Ul Haq is an excellent limited-overs bowler who is in the prime of his career in terms of age.
Naveen Ul Haq would become one of the most sought-after players in the auction if released, but it is unlikely that the bid for him will rise to Rs. 11 crore. It is more likely that the Lucknow Super Giants will use their RTM privileges to bring him back to the team.
4) Nicholas Pooran – 18 Crore
Nicholas Pooran is low-key one of the best T20 cricketers in the world. The West Indian has shown an ability to carry the team both on the franchise and international level. Not only is he an above-average wicketkeeper, but he is also one of, if not the most explosive middle-order batsman in the world.
Over the past two seasons for the Lucknow Super Giants, Pooran’s strike rate has been over 175, which is an unheard-of start for multiple seasons. He has also, on occasion, won his team the match on his own by playing an unbelievable inning.
Nicholas Pooran is the kind of player that breaks auction records. But it should not come to that, as LSG should not think about retaining him twice.
Check Out: Six Players Lucknow Super Giants Should Retain
5) Ravi Bishnoi – 14 Crore
Yet another proven wrist-spinner in the IPL, Ravi Bishnoi, is one of the names that is all but confirmed on the Lucknow Super Giants retention list. Wrist spinners are a dime a dozen nowadays. One that has already performed in the league in the past is worth his weight in gold.
Not every team has a class wrist spinner on their side, and wrist spinners tend to take the most wickets in T20 cricket. So when a team has a bowler like Bishnoi on their side, it would be foolish of them to let him go.
Ravi Bishnoi is LSG’s highest wicket-taker in franchise history, taking 39 wickets in three seasons at an economy of below nine, which is fine for a spinner in this era.
6) Mayank Yadav (Uncapped) – 4 Crore
Mayank Yadav played only four matches for the Lucknow Super Gints, bowling overs in only three of them. Despite that, he was the most talked-about young player in the league for the entire season. And the reason for that is simple, sheer pace. The Delhi-based bowler bowled at speeds over 155 km/h on a regular basis, the kind of speed that is unheard of in Indian pacers.
The 22-year-old also showed lethality in his wicket-taking, as he took seven wickets at an average of just over 12.
While Mayank Yadav spent much of his season out with an injury, he is the kind of exciting talent that teams should keep a hold of. The only issue with this retention is that Mayank will likely be picked for the India vs Bangladesh T20Is. If he plays a match in that series, he will no longer be an uncapped player, throwing a spanner into the works for LSG.
Check Out: Six Players Lucknow Super Giants Should Retain
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