Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul will most likely to be released by the franchise barring any last-minute change of mind from both parties, LSG will have one right-to-match (RTM) card at the auction.
As per ESPN Cricinfo, the Lucknow-based franchise will retain Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi along with the uncapped pair of Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni ahead of the upcoming mega auction which is set to take place next month.
The specific amounts for the five players' contracts are still undisclosed, but according to the IPL's retention slabs, INR 51 crore will be deducted from LSG's budget. If the total compensation for the five players exceeds 51 crore, the higher figure will be deducted from the franchise's INR 120 crore purse allocated for building their squads for IPL 2025.
As per Cricinfo, Pooran will be the top retention for LSG, followed by Mayank and Bishnoi. In 2024, Pooran ranked just behind Rahul in runs scored and served as the interim captain and wicketkeeper during the first half of the season while Rahul was sidelined due to injury.
Considered one of the top power-hitters in the game, the 29-year-old Pooran was acquired by LSG before the 2023 season for INR 16 crore (approximately USD 1.927 million). His value has risen significantly since his debut IPL season in 2017, when Mumbai Indians signed him for INR 30 lakhs. Two years later, Punjab Kings brought him in for INR 4.2 crore (around USD 575,000). At the 2022 mega auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad paid INR 10.75 crore (approximately USD 1.433 million) before releasing him a year later.
Mayank earned two Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two IPL games, clocking deliveries over 150 kph in 2024. However, a side strain limited him to just four matches, though he was quickly included in the national selectors' list for fast-bowling contracts. Acquired by LSG for INR 20 lakhs in the 2024 auction, Mayank has played only seven matches, all in T20s, including four in the IPL and his recent international debut in a T20 series against Bangladesh. He is currently at the BCCI's newly established Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Bishnoi was one of three players LSG retained before the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 4 crore, then an uncapped player. During the 2022 season, he took 13 wickets at an impressive average of 8.44, helping LSG reach the playoffs. The following year, as an international player, he ranked 13th among the leading wicket-takers with 16 wickets at 7.74, contributing to LSG’s playoff success again. However, last season, he managed only 10 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 8.77.
