"They might be the only team that plays 4 overseas batters" - Aakash Chopra on LSG's 'unique' squad heading into IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra has termed the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) a 'unique' team heading into IPL 2025. He pointed out the franchise might play four overseas batters and an entire Indian bowling lineup.
LSG retained Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crore), Mayank Yadav (₹11 crore), Mohsin Khan (₹4 crore) and Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore) before the auction. They spent ₹68.90 crore to acquire 19 more players at the mega auction to assemble a 24-member squad heading into the upcoming edition of the IPL.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that the Lucknow Super Giants might field a 'unique' playing combination in IPL 2025.
"They spent ₹27 crore to get Rishabh Pant. They had already bid goodbye to (KL) Rahul. He hadn't been retained. After that, they got an incredible steal in the form of Mitchell Marsh, just for ₹3.40 crore. They have David (Miller) along with him, and Nicholas Pooran also in the middle," he said (0:01).
"They have an entire Indian fast-bowling department. Lucknow Super Giants are a very unique team. They might be the only team that plays four overseas batters and an entire Indian fast-bowling and spin department," Chopra added.
Besides retaining Pooran, LSG acquired David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Matthew Breetzke as part of their overseas batting contingent. Shamar Joseph is the only specialist bowler among their six overseas players.
"The Indian bowling attack is looking good but is slightly injury-prone" - Aakash Chopra on LSG's bowling
![Mayank Yadav played only four games in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/2766b-17331111085763-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that the Lucknow Super Giants have a decent Indian attack but highlighted that their seamers are injury-prone.
"It's a slightly radical and interesting approach. The Indian bowling attack is looking good but is slightly injury-prone. Mohsin Khan has had an injury history. Mayank Yadav, as Sir (Sanjiv Goenka) himself said, might not play the entire season. Akash Deep is still not proven in the IPL. Of course, they have Avesh Khan as well," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that the Lucknow-based franchise has good spinners in Ravi Bishnoi and Shahbaz Ahmed. He concluded by rating their squad as 8 or 8.5 on a scale of 10.
"I feel both spinners are good. They have Ravi Bishnoi and Shahbaz Ahmed. However, it's a very interesting mix, all overseas batters on one side and Indian bowlers on the other. I am giving them 8 or 8.5 out of 10," Chopra observed.
While Bishnoi was retained, LSG bought Shahbaz for ₹2.40 crore at the auction. M Siddharth is another spin-bowling option in their squad.