Okay, for all the naysayers, LSG is still a decent team. Even though they are without their premier fast bowlers — Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, there is still a lot they can achieve with this team; the only condition is, they have to really smart about their playing XI right from the very smart.
If Not Mitchell Marsh, Then Who?
For Mohsin Khan, the Sanjiv Goenka-led team has roped in experienced Shardul Thakur, and that sorts the problem to a certain extent, but they need to be wary about their four foreign picks. It is time they realise, that Australian Mitchell Marsh, if he doesn’t bowl, does not solve their purpose and is a liability to the team.
Sapna dekh liya, ab poora kare bina rukenge nahi
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 24, 2025pic.twitter.com/sA8FfJLjD8
For starters, his numbers are just poor in the IPL, and there is no reason why they should improve this year. In the 42 matches he has played so far, he has only scored 665 runs at an average of 19. Just poor, given batting is his primary skill. As for bowling, he has 37 wickets, at an economy of 8.51. Given he is perennially not available to bowl, he just should not be considered.
Rishabh Pant Should Look at Aiden Markram
Instead LSG and Rishabh Pant need to go with South Africa’s Aiden Markram. Not only is he an aggressive batter at the top of the order, he is a gun fielder, and a decent off-spinner too; can be a leader of the group too, along with Pant. IN 44 IPL matches he has scored 995 runs at an average of 30.
As for bowling, he hasn’t been utilised much, but in T20s, his economy rate of 7.54 is just brilliant for a part-timer. In fact, he should be a perfect opener for the side, maybe with someone like an Arshin Kulkarni, who is a fast-bowling all-rounder. So, Marsh’s exclusion not only means inclusion of a better batter, but also gives a chance to the management to field a foreign pacer in Shamar Joseph.
Manzil kareeb hai, junoon beintehaan, aur hausla buland!
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 24, 2025
Aaj ek naye safar ki seedhi chadhni hai… Ab apni baari haipic.twitter.com/AdqZ00Dz7i
Shamar Joseph, Shardul Thakur, Hangargekar + 1 as Pacers
Talking of the 20-year-old Arshin, he has opened a few times for Maharashtra in domestic cricket, and his overall record is decent. In 14 T20s, he has scored 324 runs at an average of 24.92, and a strike-rate of 145. And while bowling, he has picked up 10 wickets too. Just his presence would mean that Rishabh Pant can go with four pacers in his XI, despite the injury handicap — Arshin, Shamar, Shardul Thakur and Rajvardhan Hagargekar.
As for spinners, there is Markram to send in a few overs, along with Ravi Bishnoi, the former World No. 1 T20I bowler, and M Siddarth, who can be difficult to deal with as well. For now, it might seem like a makeshift team XI, but then given their quality they can certainly make a few casualties as the tournament progresses.
Best LSG XI for IPL 2025
- Arshin Kulkarni, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Shamar Joseph, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, M Siddarth.
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