Former India player and veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has identified the LSG’s potential releases after they were eliminated from the IPL 2025 playoff race. He added that they can make ₹49 crore available for the next
season’s auction if they release the expensive trio of Rishabh Pant, Mayank Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “They had retained Mayank Yadav. However, Mayank Yadav has played only six matches in the last three years, and you gave him ₹11 crore. I think you gave ₹11 crore to Ravi Bishnoi as well, who, by the end, was either not part of the team or was hit for 26 runs in an over and didn’t bowl after that in that match.”

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“Since Rishabh Pant’s year has been so ordinary, he didn’t score runs in the last match as well, it didn’t work out despite him coming at No. 3, but it’s ₹27 crore. If it’s ₹27 crore from him and you get two more ₹11 crore, that’s ₹49 crore in just three players. ₹49 crore will get released,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra also added that the Lucknow Super Giants could also consider releasing Akash Deep and Avesh Khan, who were bought for ₹8 crore and ₹9.75 crore, respectively as well.

“I don’t remember, but I think Akash Deep was also worth five or six crores (₹8 crore). Akash Deep was not cheap. So if Akash Deep’s money is also added to that, it will become close to ₹55 crore. So there will be questions. Avesh Khan won one or two matches for sure, but he too was very expensive. So, suddenly, you need to see in which direction you are going,” he said.

“David Miller, again an expensive buy. If you add his money as well, they might be the new Punjab Kings next year. Just like the Punjab Kings came into the mega auction with more than ₹110 crore, the Lucknow Super Giants might go to the mini-auction with so much money that they can buy the world and more,” Aakash Chopra concluded.