Ranking LSG's 5 best buys in IPL 2025 Auction ft. Aiden Markram
The frenzied IPL mega auction, which took place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, threw up a lot of newly minted millionaires. While some players ended up returning to their old teams, some were acquired by franchises for whom they had never turned up before.
A lot of young players too found takers, and it was exciting to see how highly they had been rated by the franchises. Similarly, several experienced stars too found their homes in franchises who felt that they could make do with their presence on the side to enhance their quality.
The Lucknow Super Giants, one of the sides that were introduced into the IPL as late as 2022, reached the playoffs in its first two seasons. However, in their previous campaign, under India batter KL Rahul's captaincy, they ended up in the seventh position of the league table.
In this mega auction, LSG (owned by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group) made quite a few big purchases, with the acquisition of India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant alone costing them INR 27 crores. They also purchased valuable overseas players David Miller, Aiden Markram, and Mitchell Marsh, among others.
In this piece, we rank the five best buys made by LSG in the auction.
#5 Avesh Khan
Seamer Avesh Khan is one of the best purchases made by LSG in this auction, and they will be keen on utilizing his services both with the new ball and the old. The Madhya Pradesh fast bowler was bought for an impressive price of INR 9.75 lakh in the auction.
The Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals (his former franchise) entered into the bidding war for Avesh alongside LSG, but the latter edged everyone else out in the end. Avesh was the leading wicket-taker for RR in the 2024 IPL with 19 scalps and is known for his piercing, toe-crushing yorkers in the death.
#4 David Miller
David Miller, who is renowned worldwide for his big six-hitting ability, arrives at the Lucknow Super Giants after having played for Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2022, 2023, and 2024 editions of the cash-rich tournament.
The South African, whose hard-hitting skills make him a go-to option for T20 franchises everywhere, averages 36 in the IPL and strikes the ball at 139. Miller is also known for hitting the ball straight down the ground.
His former franchise GT and Royal Challengers Bengaluru started the auction for Miller, but the Delhi Capitals too entered into the fray later on. RCB seemed set to pick him up for INR 7.25 crores, but LSG took him home in a single swoop at INR 7.50 crores.
#3 Akash Deep
India fast bowler Akash Deep, who has matured greatly over the last few seasons, has displayed time and again why he is so highly rated. He can get the ball to swing both ways, causing considerable frustration to batters who do not like to use their feet early on in their innings.
Starting with his base price of INR 1 crore, the Chennai Super Kings seemed intent on taking him home. However, LSG were also well-matched in the race by Punjab Kings, who took them up to the INR 7.75 crore mark before giving up. The Ekana-based franchise then picked him up for INR 8 crores.
#2 Aiden Markram
South Africa's limited-overs captain Aiden Markram is one of the players who is in high demand in franchise leagues across the world owing to his fluid playing style. Known to play well both as an opener and in the middle-order, Markram is also a top-notch fielder and leader.
The 30-year-old can play the sheet anchor's role as well as the slogger's, and this makes him the ideal player to have in one's team. The former SunRisers Hyderabad player was picked up at his base price of INR 2 crores by LSG.
The Lucknow-based side will feel that they got a steal in Markram as they would have surely prepared to bid a higher price for him. However, no other side seemed keen on picking him up, and LSG lapped up the opportunity with both hands.
#1 Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was clearly the best purchase made by LSG in this auction given the quality he can give them. The India wicketkeeper-batter, who returned to action earlier this year after a life-threatening road accident in December 2022, has been phenomenal both in front of and behind the stumps.
LSG were interested in Pant right from the offing and fought off competition from the likes of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the SunRisers Hyderabad to stay put till the end. Pant will most probably captain LSG in the 2025 edition of the IPL, and hope to repay the faith the franchise have shown in him for INR 27 crores.