"One was with Rishabh Pant and Jos Buttler" - Sanjiv Goenka on LSG's 3 scenarios as part of IPL 2025 auction strategy
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has disclosed that the franchise's think tank had prepared three scenarios for the IPL 2025 auction. He revealed that the first scenario was to acquire Rishabh Pant and Jos Buttler as an opening combination, which eventually did not materialize.
LSG bought Pant for a whopping ₹27 crore at the mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Although they tried to acquire Buttler as well, the Gujarat Titans (GT) outbid them to purchase the England wicketkeeper-batter for ₹15.75 crore.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the cricketer-turned-commentator asked Goenka about the Lucknow Super Giants' auction strategy and planning process.
"We had prepared three scenarios. One was with Rishabh Pant and Jos Buttler. So the idea was to go with an explosive opening pair that gives 60 to 85 runs in the powerplay. Jos was in lot one. So if we had succeeded, that was the way we would have gone. We did not get that," he replied (6:00).
Goenka disclosed that LSG's second preference was to assemble a middle-overs bowling combination of Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav.
"Then we said let's go with Yuzi. So Yuzi, Bishnoi and Mayank from over six to over 17. So that would have made those 12 overs extremely solid. Three principal wicket-takers, with very good economy in bowling, so you would have bottled the opposition. So we went a huge distance for Yuzi but we got outbid," he reasoned.
LSG retained Bishnoi and Mayank for ₹11 crore apiece ahead of the auction. They tried to acquire Chahal too, but were outbid by the Punjab Kings (PBKS), who bought the leg-spinner for ₹18 crore.
"Build a solid middle and finishing core so that you can chase down any total" - Sanjiv Goenka on LSG's third scenario
![David Miller was one of the middle-order batters acquired by LSG. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/4476c-17331202311331-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Sanjiv Goenka noted that the Lucknow Super Giants' third option was to assemble a 'solid' middle order.
"Our third preference was to build a solid middle and finishing core so that you can chase down any total. You are missing one or two brands in bowling but you are making up by the middle order and your finishers such that you can chase down any total," he said (7:00).
The RPSG Group chairperson added that Rishabh Pant was a key player in all three of their scenarios.
"So these were the three thought processes. In all three scenarios, Rishabh Pant was integral to the planning," Goenka observed.
LSG retained two middle-order batters, Nicholas Pooran and Ayush Badoni, ahead of the auction. Apart from Pant, they acquired enticing middle-order batting options in David Miller, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, with most of them capable openers as well.