3 holes LSG might struggle to fill at the IPL 2025 auction ft. Indian batting core
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are in a tricky period of transition in the Indian Premier League (IPL). While that is true for all 10 franchises, with an important mega auction shortly, it is especially true for LSG.
Lucknow released KL Rahul, their captain from last year, into the auction pool. They have opted to retain Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and Mohsin Khan ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
LSG have one RTM card, which can be used on a capped player. While they aren't necessarily strapped for cash, they have plenty of holes to fill and might find it tough to get all their work done to a degree of satisfaction on November 24 and 25.
On that note, here are three holes LSG might struggle to fill at the IPL 2025 auction.
#3 LSG need a host of Indian batters at the IPL 2025 auction
Having released Rahul, LSG now needs to build their entire batting core. Badoni is the only player on the roster who currently fits the bill, and he is a relatively inexperienced option who still has plenty of work to do on his game.
Players Lucknow have signed recently, such as Devdutt Padikkal, Deepak Hooda and Arshin Kulkarni, haven't been at their best for the franchise. Constant changes in roles, coupled with a home venue that has been unpredictable and rather conducive to low scores, haven't helped matters.
Indian batting options will be limited at the IPL 2025 auction, especially for teams that need to build their entire core in that department from scratch. It's hard to see how LSG will fill this void without relying on relatively unknown players, who may be hit-and-miss.
#2 Lucknow need reliable pacers not troubled by injury
![Mayank Yadav has made his international debut [Image: BCCI on X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/f9729-17314371767597-1920.jpg)
Mayank and Mohsin are two of the most exciting fast-bowling talents in the country, but both have clear troubles with injury.
While the former played only a handful of matches in IPL 2024 before being ruled out with injuries and has suffered several since then, the latter has missed a large portion of the last auction cycle. Moreover, even when Mohsin has played, he has looked like a shadow of the bowler who terrorized the opposition in 2022.
With that in mind, LSG must sign fast bowlers who aren't injury-prone at the IPL 2025 auction. At the same time, they will not be able to spend much on them, given their other constraints and the fact that they have already retained two pacers expected to feature in the XII.
Overseas options won't come cheap, and the same goes for domestic ones.
#1 LSG need a quality finisher
Pooran is a versatile batter, but he is best suited to a top four role, where he can play a large chunk of deliveries and maximize his impact. The same might be true for Badoni, who isn't a reliable finisher at this stage of his career despite having donned the hat sometimes for LSG.
Lucknow will need to find a finisher at the IPL 2025 auction. Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell will take up an overseas slot, which isn't ideal given the number of holes they have to fill in the top order. Indian options such as Ashutosh Sharma and Abdul Samad are both unproven and likely to be expensive.
Many other teams have retained their finishers, leaving LSG in an unwanted predicament.