Lucknow Super Giants have spent a staggering sum of 21 crores for their ace retention, Nicholas Pooran. This means, there is no scope for the Lucknow-based outfits to pay KL Rahul, which sees the former captain heading to the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. On the other hand, Mayank Yadav and Ravi Bshnoi are other capped players to be retained for a price of 11 crores each.
As for the uncapped players, LSG has retained Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan for a sum of 4 crores each. With 5 retentions already done, the team will have just one Right To Match (RTM) when they sit at the mega auction.
No Offer for KL Rahul
The LSG side has decided to take a new approach which sees them moving away from their captain KL Rahul. Contrary to reports, the team didn’t give any offers to the Indian star, InsideSport has learned. It can understood that the slow run rate has often caused enough trouble for the side that failed to make it to the playoffs last season.
Coupled with that, Rahul’s often failure to play big and quick innings has also been an underlying cause. On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran has been the star with his quick-firing innings, often helping out his team from trouble. Thus the Caribbean star was LSG’s first choice and was handsomely rewarded with a contract of 21 crores, making him the highest retained player by the franchise.
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Change in mindset for LSG
Lucknow Super Giants are on the hunt for aggressive players. And that will be their main priority in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. InsideSport has learned that Indian stars like Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, and Shreyas Iyer are among the players targetted by the side.
If LSG manage to get their hands on either of the three players at the mega auction, it would be a massive boost for the side who would be trying hard to get their hands on a maiden title.
1 RTM, who will LSG choose?
Interestingly, with 5 players retained as the core heading into IPL 2025 Retention Deadline day, the side will have just 1 RTM option available in the auction. The team thinktank will be a spot of bother for those who want to use the Right to Match option.
InsideSport has also learned that there are 3 potential targets that LSG would dearly want to take back via RTM. These include the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya and Mark Woods.
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