IPL 2023: Best starting XI of LSG after mini auction

Lucknow Super Giants had a sensational run in their debut season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They notched up a string of victories and finished third on the points table with nine wins in 14 games at the end of the league stage. But unfortunately, they lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator and exited the tournament. Ahead of the IPL 2023 auction, the Lucknow franchise moved past seven of their players, and courtesy of the releases, they went into the marquee event with INR 23.35 crore in their kitty. At the player auction, LSG left no stone unturned to acquire Nicholas Pooran and spent an insane sum of INR 16 crore to pick him. They also added T20 stars such as Romario Shepherd, and Daniel Sams to their arsenal. Given so many gun players are in Lucknow's team, it will interesting what playing XI the team management decides to go with in the coming season. Best Starting XI of LSG ahead of IPL 2023 1. KL Rahul KL Rahul has been one of the consistent performers in the T20 circuit in the last couple of years. The ace batter has played 72 T20Is and notched up 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.12. He has been a run machine in the cash-rich league and amassed 3889 runs in 109 matches at a strike rate of 136.22. Rahul can shepherd the innings beautifully while the stroke-makers around him can take the bowling apart. He has an aggressive aspect to his game as well and has dismantled top-quality attacks for fun with his swashbuckling stroke play. The Lucknow franchise handed the leadership duties to Rahul and the 30-year-old carried out the responsibility to the best of his abilities. He led from the front and scored 616 runs in 15 matches during the 2022 season at a strike rate of 135.38. LSG would expect their skipper to be at his prolific best in the upcoming IPL season. 2. Quinton de Kock Quinton de Kock has been a giant of a player in the T20 circuit. The 30-year-old has featured in 291 matches in the shortest format and amassed 8497 runs at a strike rate of 137.55. He has also proven his mettle in the IPL arena and scored 2764 runs in 92 games at a strike rate of 133.91. In the 15th edition of the lucrative T20 tournament, de Kock was quite sensational and smashed 508 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 148.97. He steadied the ship whenever the team was in trouble and also took top-quality bowling line-ups to the cleaners with his marauding bat. The veteran player also provided valuable inputs from behind the wickets and was a great aid to Lucknow skipper Rahul as far as positioning the fielders is concerned. Quinton is an integral part of LSG’s set-up and the team management would hope that the keeper-batter brings his A-game to the table in the next season. 3. Deepak Hooda Lucknow roped in Deepak Hooda at the 2022 mega auction for INR 5.75 crore. It proved to be an excellent buy as the 27-year-old took the tournament by storm with his astonishing performances. He featured in 15 games and scored 451 runs at a strike rate of 136.67. When Manish Pandey was struggling to get going, having scored just 88 runs in six games, the team management looked at Hooda for the number three role. The Rohtak-born aced it and thus, he is likely to slot into the same position in the coming season. Hooda has also displayed his batting might in the international arena as well and smashed 302 runs in 15 T20Is at a strike rate of 150.24. Courtesy of his impeccable showings, he also broke into India’s squad for the recently culminated T20 World Cup 2022. Besides Hooda’s prowess with the bat, he is quite handy with the ball and can be used in case of a favourable match-up. Lucknow would hope the batting all-rounder is at his best during the 16th IPL edition. 4. Nicholas Pooran Nicholas Pooran has been a prominent figure in the T20 circuit. He has featured in 256 T20 games and amassed 4942 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 141.15. The 27-year-old has also set the IPL arena ablaze with his sensational performances and scored 912 runs in 47 matches at a strike rate of 151.24. The Lucknow franchise went hammer and tongs to sign Pooran at the IPL 2023 auction and eventually grabbed him for a whopping sum of INR 16 crore. The West Indies batter will likely fit into the middle-order slot that was entrusted to Evin Lewis last season. Pooran is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and has the ability to take the attack to the opposition right from the get-go. His inclusion will add explosiveness to the batting line-up and the Lucknow franchise would hope the wicketkeeper-batter lights up the IPL 2023 with his stunning batting displays. 5. Krunal Pandya Krunal Pandya has been a bankable name in the Indian Premier League. The 31-year-old has featured in 98 matches and amassed 1326 runs at a strike rate of 136.70. On the bowling front, he has picked up 61 wickets at an economy of 7.31. Lucknow Super Giants bought Krunal Pandya at the 2022 mega auction to add depth to the side. The southpaw had a decent campaign with the ball taking ten wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 6.97. However, the all-rounder failed to create an impact with the bat and could only score 183 runs at a mediocre strike rate of 126.21. Despite his fairly mediocre season, the team management has stuck with Krunal due to the all-round balance he brings to the table. With the bat, he can be used as a floater in the middle order and with the ball, the ace all-rounder can strangle the opposition with his consistent line and length. The Ahmedabad-born will be itching to put up a better show in the 16th IPL edition. 6. Marcus Stoinis Marcus Stoinis has been a proven performer in the T20 circuit. He has featured in 213 games in the shortest format and amassed 4323 runs at a strike rate of 135.55. Also, the Australian all-rounder has bagged 95 wickets at an economy of 9.00. The 33-year-old has shown his all-round might in the IPL arena as well. He has hammered 1070 runs at a strike rate of 137.36 and bagged 34 wickets in the competition. LSG picked the ace all-rounder for the 2022 season and entrusted him with the role of a finisher. Stoinis fared well for his new franchise and smashed 156 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 147.17. However, he was not at his best on the bowling front and conceded runs at an economy of 11.29. When LSG take the field in the 2023 season of the cash-rich league, Stoinis will again be entrusted to do the heavy lifting with the bat in the slog overs. Also, he will likely be the fourth seamer of the team and would be eager to put on an improved bowling display. 7. Ayush Badoni Ayush Badoni is one of the most exciting prospects in the Indian domestic circuit currently. He has featured in 29 T20 games thus far and scored 294 runs at a strike rate of 130.08. Lucknow franchise roped in the youngster at the 2022 mega auction at a base price of INR 20 lakh. The Delhi-born lit the 15th edition of the lucrative T20 tournament with his breathtaking performances. On his IPL debut (2022 season), which was against Gujarat Titans (match 4), he came in at a precarious situation with LSG at 29 for 4 and notched up a brilliant half-century to take his side to a competitive total. Also, When Rahul & co. locked horns with Chennai Super Kings in the 7th match of the season, Badoni showed nerves of steel and played a superb cameo of 19* runs of nine deliveries to take his side across the line. However, his form dipped in the later half of the season and ended the tournament with 161 runs under his belt in 13 matches at a strike rate of 123.85. Given Badoni displayed glimpses of brilliance in the last season, he is likely to find a place in Lucknow’s starting XI in the coming season. 8. Ravi Bishnoi Ravi Bishnoi has been simply sensational from the time he stepped into the IPL arena. He has bamboozled batters with his variations and has taken 37 wickets in as many games at an economy of 7.53. He has also his bowling might for India and bagged 16 scalps in 10 T20Is at an economy of 7.08. Bishnoi is a lion-hearted bowler and does not crumble under pressure. He is a genuine wicket-taker and remains unfazed when batters try to take him on. Lucknow selected the ace spinner as one of their draft picks for the 2022 season and tasked him to lead the spin attack. Bishnoi did a decent job for the Lucknow franchise, picking up 13 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.44. The Jodhpur-born would like to build on his performance and put on a show with the ball in the forthcoming season. 9. Avesh Khan Avesh Khan wreaked havoc with the ball in the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League, bagging 24 wickets in 16 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy of 7.37. The Lucknow franchise went all guns blazing to pick the ace pacer at the 2022 mega auction and acquired him at a staggering sum of INR 10 crore. Avesh repaid LSG’s faith and led the way with the ball, taking 18 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 8.73. Courtesy of his stellar showings, he broke into the international circuit. However, the 25-year-old was not able to create an impact for the Men in Blue. In 15 T20Is, he has managed 13 wickets and conceded runs at an alarming rate of 9.10. Avesh has the ability to bowl in all the phases of the game and has a lot of variations up his sleeve. He would look to put his dismal outings in the Indian colours behind him and shine in the forthcoming season of the cash-rich league. 10. Mark Wood Mark Wood has been a strike force for England in the white-ball circuit. He has clocked speeds of over 150 kmph on a consistent basis and rattled batters with his fiery pace. The ace pacer has featured in 27 T20Is and bagged 44 wickets at an economy of 8.27. Lucknow roped in Wood at a staggering sum of INR 7.5 crore but the investment did not bear fruit as the speedster was ruled out of the entire tournament due to an elbow injury. But he is fit and available presently, and ready to set the IPL 2023 on fire with his performances. Wood has breathed fire from the time he returned to the international fold after recovering from injury. He has bagged 18 wickets in eight games at an economy of 7.15. He would itching to replicate the same for the Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming edition. 11. Mohsin Khan Mohsin Khan has been a consistent performer in the Indian domestic circuit. He has featured in 17 List-A matches and bagged 26 wickets at an economy of 5.15. When it comes to the shortest format, the left-arm pacer has picked up 47 scalps in 35 games at an economy of 6.78. Mohsin set the 15th edition of the lucrative T20 tournament alight with his jaw-dropping performances. The left-arm pacer made the ball talk at the start of the innings and provided LSG with early breakthroughs. Also, he was quite terrific in the middle overs and death overs. The Sambhal-born played nine games and picked up 14 wickets at an impeccable economy of 5.97. Mohsin will look to carry on the good work for the Lucknow franchise in IPL 2023 and be a strike force with the ball.

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IPL 2023: Best starting XI of LSG after mini auction

LSG broke the bank to sign Nicholas Pooran at IPL 2023 auction and acquired him after spending a staggering sum of INR 16 crore.

10. Mark Wood

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