Former India player Aakash Chopra chose the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) probable XI, alongside an Impact Sub, for IPL 2025. While opining that either Rishabh Pant or Nicholas Pooran will be their highest run-scorer, he picked Ravi Bishnoi as their probable highest wicket-taker as well. However, LSG retained Pooran (₹21 crore) and Bishnoi (₹11 crore) along with Mayank Yadav (₹11 crore) and the uncapped duo of Mohsin Khan (₹4 crore) and Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore) before the IPL 2025 auction as well. Notably, they bought Pant for an IPL record ₹27 crore at the mega auction and made him their captain as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “One of Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke with Mitchell Marsh. Ayush Badoni could bat at No. 3. However, if there is a long partnership, (Rishabh) Pant can also come. Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant and David Miller could be your three, four and five or four, five and six. Then you will have Abdul Samad as your Impact Sub. You can use him when required. Then you will go towards Shahbaz Ahmed. In bowling, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan/Mayank Yadav. It will depend on fitness who they would play.”
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“Who will score the most runs? I think it will be a toss-up between Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. They are their two best players. Who will take the most wickets? Since the fast bowlers will be rotated, I am going towards Ravi Bishnoi. Players to watch out for – Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed,” Chopra again shared.
However, Aakash Chopra also stated that the Lucknow Super Giants will be dependent on their overseas batters and Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 as well.
“What could be their strategy? Heavy reliance on the overseas batters plus Rishabh Pant. Ayush Badoni is also there in the middle. He is batting really well. You will expect Abdul Samad to bat well. These two Indian players are there for sure, but Rishabh Pant is the only one who plays for India. So the overseas batting contingent has to manage,” he concluded.
