IPL 2025: Rating teams based on their retentions and releases

8. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

It is the end of the KL Rahul era in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). After his verbal tussle with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka following a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, tensions were rising in the camp. Rahul came to meet Goenka in Kolkata and it seemed that the two had buried the hatchet.

However, in the days leading up to October 31, there were reports of the Karnataka batter getting ready to find a new home in the IPL. The reports were validated when Lucknow retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni.

Pooran was the first retention for LSG for INR 21 crore. Capped players Bishnoi and Mayank received INR 11 crore each. Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Mohsin and Badani were retained for INR 4 crore each. It was interesting to see that the Super Giants let go of star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who played some remarkable knocks for them over the last three seasons and also contributed with the ball.

Mohsin and Badoni had one good season each but have not made much of an impact otherwise. There was the option of retaining Yash Thakur, who bagged a five-for last season, but the management decided to keep Mohsin in the side. They have one RTM option remaining and it will be interesting to see who they retain. Quinton de Kock might be a suitable option.