Cheer up, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) fans! Abdul Samad, the new acquisition for LSG at the IPL 2025 mega auction, set the stage on fire by smashing a wonderful century for Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). The flamboyant finisher ripped apart the Mizoram bowling attack and hammered 112 off just 64 balls on Tuesday, December 31.
IPL 2025: Abdul Samad in form for LSG!
Playing for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Samad built on a strong start provided by the openers. But J&K lost three quick wickets, leading Samad onto the crease. Incredibly for the new LSG uncapped player, Samad played just 14 dot balls. Instead, he looked for singles and doubles while hitting a boundary every 4.27 balls. Operating at a strike rate of 175.00, Samad hit 9 boundaries and six maximums at the Vizzy Stadium. This led Jammu and Kashmir to a superb first-innings total of 377/6. In reply, Mizoram have also enjoyed a great start. Son of movie director and producer Agni Chopra has been fantastic, reaching 70 off 70 at the time of writing.
What this means for LSG?
Despite not having specialist openers in the team, the Lucknow Super Giants have a power-packed batting unit. Signing the world’s most expensive T20 franchise player, Rishabh Pant, at Rs 27.00 crore, LSG’s batting unit will surely be one to watch out for. Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, and David Miller will resurrect the middle order, and Abdul Samad is expected to play as an Impact sub, at least. His return to form is a fantastic news for LSG, who failed to qualify for the playoffs earlier this year at IPL 2024.
Abdul Samad was first drafted into SRH way back in 2020, and since then the J&K all-rounder went on to play 50 matches for the franchise without doing much. The lad, over the seasons, has been made to bat lower down the order, where he doesn’t get much opportunity, and whatever chances he gets, it is safe to say, he has not made the best use of it. But at LSG, Samad would be aiming for more success now.
