Lucknow SuperGiants in Tata IPL 2025: From Rishabh Pant to Nicholas Pooran; 5 players to watch out for

As the upcoming IPL season approaches, the Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG) are once again in the hunt for the elusive trophy that narrowly slipped through their grasp in two of previous three seasons. The franchise has retained a strong core, ensuring continuity and stability, with key players such as Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Nicholas Pooran forming the backbone of the squad.

One of LSG's biggest strengths is its overseas batting firepower. The likes of Nicholas Pooran, David Miller, and Aiden Markram add immense value to the middle order, each capable of turning a match single-handedly. Adding to this arsenal is Mitchell Marsh whose expected availability, even if its only as a batter, provides firepower in the ranks and flexibility in the batting order.

A significant boost to the team's batting depth comes in the form of Rishabh Pant. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate his exploits of Feroz Shah Kotla in the Ekana stadium in Lucknow. The Indian dynamite has been a middle-order batsman traditionally, but there is speculation that he could take on the No 3 spot or even open the innings in certain situations. If that happens, his aggressive stroke play could set the tone for the LSG's innings and give them an early advantage in high-pressure matches. It could also be a discovery for the national team.

Here are the top 5 LSG players to watch out for this season:

Rishabh Pant

The most expensive IPL player ever at Rs 27 crore, the weight of prize tag and captaincy must be looming large on Pant's head. But the audacious wicketkeeper-batter will be well-supported by a power-packed LSG batting line-up consisting of Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni among others.

Nicholas Pooran

The Caribbean star is a reliable finisher and was LSG's second-highest run-getter with 499 runs in 14 matches, averaging a massive 62.37 with a stunning strike rate of 178.21 and three half-centuries. The hard-hitting middle-order batter would love to follow last season's heroics.

David Miller

The Proteas batter is another vital part of LSG set-up and a power-packed finisher with the ability to strike non-stop in death overs. While his last season with Gujarat Titans (GT) yielded him just 210 runs in nine innings with a fifty, Miller would be aiming to deliver something special this time around.

Mayank Yadav

Having set the speed guns on fire and hitting the 150 kmph mark consistently, Mayank would be aiming for a breakout season after recovering from all the recent injuries and learning from mentor Zaheer Khan. Last season, he took seven wickets in four matches.

Ravi Bishnoi

The ace LSG and Indian spinner had an underwhelming 2024 season, with just 10 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 38.30. He would be aiming to make amends this time around and deliver a brilliant season.