According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Lucknow Super Giants are poised to retain Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and the uncapped duo of Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni for the IPL 2025. KL Rahul, who led the franchise since its formation in 2022, is unlikely to be retained unless both parties change their minds at the last minute.
The actual sum signed up for by the five players is not disclosed; however, based on the retention slabs implemented by the IPL, INR 51 crore will be removed from the LSG’s budget. If the total amount paid to the five surpasses 51 crore, the greater figure would be removed from the INR 120 crore purse that each team has been granted to create their squads for IPL 2025.
It is anticipated that Pooran will be the first choice for retention, with Mayank and Bishnoi coming in second and third.
Nicholas Pooran is regarded as one of the best power hitters of the current lot. Pooran was acquired by LSG for INR 16 crore before the 2023 season. Since the Mumbai Indians purchased Pooran for INR 30 lakhs during his first IPL season in 2017, his price tag has continued to rise. He was purchased by the Punjab Kings two years later for INR 4.2 crore. Before releasing him a season later, Sunrisers Hyderabad paid INR 10.75 crore at the 2022 mega auction.
Mayank, who was purchased by LSG for INR 20 lakhs in the 2024 auction, has participated in just four matches in the IPL. However, he earned two Player of the Match awards in just four appearances. Mayank has now become a capped player after recently making his international debut in the T20 series against Bangladesh.
Bishnoi was one of three players signed up by LSG for INR 4 crore ahead of the auction before IPL 2022, despite being uncapped at the time. In 2022, when LSG made the playoffs, Bishnoi took 13 wickets at 8.44. A year later, Bishnoi was 13th on the list of leading wicket-takers with 16 wickets and helped LSG make the playoffs again. However, he only took 10 wickets last season, at an average of 8.77.
Badoni and Mohsin, both purchased for INR 20 lakhs each in the 2022 auction, were critical to LSG’s success. Badoni, an aggressive middle-order batter, had his greatest season in 2023 when he scored 238 runs with a strike rate of 138 in 12 innings.
Mohsin, a fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh, impressed right away in his first IPL season in 2022. He took 14 wickets at a sub-6 economy rate in just nine matches. In the 2023 season, Mohsin got injured, but in 2024 he rebounded with 10 wickets in 10 matches.
