New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has said the team management will focus on bringing back many of their players at the IPL 2025 mega auction. On Thursday, LSG submitted its retention list with five players being retained by the RPSG Group-owned franchise.
West Indies power-hitting batter Nicholas Pooran was retained for a whopping amount of INR 21 crore while four other Indian players, including two uncapped players, were also retained. Young sensation Mayank Yadav, who recently made his India debut in the Bangladesh T20Is last month, was retained in the capped category along with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Both players were paid INR 11 crore each to continue at the franchise, which entered the IPL in 2022.
The team also retained two uncapped players in Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan worth of INR 4 crore each. A couple of days after the retention list was announced, LSG head coach Justin Langer explained the criteria behind holding the five aforementioned players.
“We are really pleased with announcing the four of the most talented Indian players in the country at the moment. We are setting a base for those strong Indian players — Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan — four incredibly talented players and I’m excited about that,” Langer said in a video posted on X by the franchise.
“Nicholas Pooran is a dynamic player in world cricket and we can’t wait to see him in action again.”
Langer also mentioned that the franchise will try to add many players from their last year’s squad by picking them in the auction. “We have got one more Right To Match (RTM) and we are hoping to pick up as many of our players as possible from last year in the auction,” he added.
How much purse is LSG left with after retentions?
LSG have retained five players for a total sum of INR 51 crore. The retentions of two uncapped players was a spot on tactic by the team management as they will move into the auction with a purse of INR 69 crore. Only Royal Challengers Bangalore (INR 83 crore) and Punjab Kings (INR 10.5) have more purse than LSG.
