IPL team profile: Great expectations ride on new Lucknow leader Pant

Since the mega auction last year, Rishabh Pant’s staggering price tag of Rs 27 crore has dominated any discussion on Lucknow Super Giants. The onus will be on the new franchise, which did well to make IPL play-offs two years in a row right on debut in 2022, to show there is more about the squad than just their effervescent captain.

The new LSG captain, who refused to stay back in Delhi Capitals despite a reported offer which ran close to the bid he attracted, has been making the right noises about putting the team cause first in the promotional events. He replaced senior India batter KL Rahul in the role after the latter was not retained under rather controversial circumstances – something which would act as an extra incentive for the dashing keeper-batter to prove himself.

There is no doubt about Pant’s utility as a package. His explosive batting and glovework last season after bouncing back from a nearly fatal car crash made him the flavour of Capitals camp and the IPL in general. He now has 3284 career IPL runs and had raked up 446 runs in the whole 2024 season.

However, it seems the 26-year-old is still a work in progress as a leader and already has a number of problems at hand even before the season has begun. The team management had been heavily banking on the young tearaway Mayank Yadav to lead their pace attack, but the youngster has again broken down and there is a major question mark over his availability for the season.

The fitness of experienced Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan, both products of UP cricketing system, is also under scrutiny – and this may leave head coach Justin Langer to cobble up a combination with Akash Deep, almost forgotten Shivam Mavi and veteran Shardul Thakur. The last-named, who had gone unsold in the auction, was at his best with both bat and ball for Mumbai in last domestic season and could be a valuable late acquisition for LSG.

They look quite a handful in the batting department though – which boasts of a blend of seasoned and explosive batters like  Pant, Nicholas Pooran, David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram. Each of them are matchwinners in their own right and can shift gears according to the match situation – while Ayush Badoni also gets a chance to consolidate his position in a star-studded line-up.

Apart from Badoni who was retained, it’s time for youngsters like Aryan Juyal and Himmat Singh to make a name for themselves and establish their presence in the team.

Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi, now rich with international experience, is set to lead their spin attack. However, there are not enough supporting options available to him and Pant will have to frequently turn to Shahbaz Ahmed – also a handy batter - and M Siddarth.

It’s a bit surprising for their home turf at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium is known to play slow and low and successful teams like Kolkata Knight Riders or Chennai Super Kings have stacked up awesome spin line-ups to make use of their home conditions.

Full squad

Rishabh Pant (captain), Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, Abdul Samad, Aryan Juyal, Akash Deep, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary.