The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) demonstrated flashes of brilliance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, maintaining consistency but ultimately falling short of the playoff threshold, finishing seventh in the league stage.
Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 campaign
This performance was an improvement on their previous season’s early momentum, re-emphasizing their strategy of building around a strong core of proven Indian international players. While they struggled to find the decisive knockout punch in crucial games, their ability to remain competitive throughout the tournament showcased a solid blueprint for future success centered on stability and a robust middle order.
This campaign was powered by several stellar individual efforts. Captain KL Rahul led the batting line-up with characteristic composure, once again accumulating over 600 runs and anchoring the innings reliably. This stability was complemented by the all-round dynamism of Krunal Pandya, who delivered critical performances with both bat and ball, often controlling the middle overs with tight spin. On the bowling side, young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was highly effective, providing genuine wicket-taking threat and becoming the team’s leading wicket-taker, ensuring the team always had a point of attack in the crucial middle overs.
The need for financial efficiency in IPL 2026
Despite showing good form and consistency in 2025, LSG’s approach to squad building remains burdened by a few high-value contracts that did not translate into proportional on-field returns. The franchise needs to prioritize financial efficiency and streamline their roster to free up significant capital, ensuring they can target specialist, high-impact replacements at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
A critical area demanding restructuring is the domestic pace department, where a significant investment was made in an experienced, high-priced pacer whose workload and wicket count were severely limited. This capital could be better deployed to acquire a high-impact, specialist death-bowling option or a proven power-hitter. Additionally, the team carried a couple of overseas players whose limited utility or failure to secure a consistent starting spot represents blocked funds. These players, who were often bench-warmers despite sizable contracts, must be released to maximize the available purse for acquiring value-for-money talent, ensuring the 2026 squad is both competitive and economically sound.
5 players Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) can release ahead of IPL 2026 auction
1. Avesh Khan (Pacer)
- Contract Value: INR 10.00 Cr
- Reason for Release: High Cost vs Inconsistent Return
Avesh Khan was retained/acquired for a significant sum to be a domestic pace spearhead, but his performance in IPL 2025 was inconsistent, yielding only 13 wickets across 13 matches at a high economy rate exceeding 10.29. While he possesses talent, his high contract value demands more reliability in both the powerplay and death overs. Releasing Avesh will free up a massive INR 10 Cr from the purse, allowing LSG to target a proven, economical Indian fast bowler or reinvest the capital into a high-impact finisher.
2. Kyle Mayers (Overseas Batter)
- Contract Value: INR 75 Lakh
- Reason for Release: Limited Utility and Redundant Role
Kyle Mayers, while a low-cost overseas asset, played only two matches in the entire tournament, mainly serving as backup for the established opening combination. With the team relying heavily on KL Rahul and another consistent opener, Mayers remained firmly on the bench, offering limited rotational utility. Releasing this slot, even at a lower price point, allows LSG to bring in a more specialized or versatile overseas player—perhaps an overseas death-bowling specialist or a middle-order ancho to better balance the starting XI.
3. Shamar Joseph (Overseas Pacer)
- Contract Value: INR 3.00 Cr
- Reason for Release: Injury Replacement and Unused Capital
Shamar Joseph was signed as an expensive replacement mid-season, but he was subsequently unavailable or deemed unfit for playing XI selection, featuring in zero matches. While his contract is not astronomical, retaining an overseas player who provided zero on-field contribution and was not part of the initial core is unnecessary. Releasing him is a straightforward roster clean-up that frees up both an overseas slot and valuable capital for the auction, reinforcing the focus on fit, high-impact contributors.
4. Shardul Thakur (All-Rounder)
- Contract Value: INR 10.75 Cr
- Reason for Release: High Cost, Inconsistent All-Round Return & Bowling Inefficiency
Shardul Thakur was acquired for a massive sum to be a pace-bowling all-rounder, but his performance in IPL 2025 often lacked the consistent breakthrough wickets and economical bowling demanded by his price tag. For a contract value over INR 10 Cr, the team needs a more reliable performer who can deliver both consistent death bowling and late-innings acceleration with the bat. Releasing Shardul would free up a significant portion of the purse for a high-impact overseas all-rounder or a specialist Indian pacer.
5. William O’Rourke (Bowler)
- Contract Value: INR 4.40 Cr
- Reason for Release: High Cost, Performance Risk & Overseas Slot Inefficiency
William O’Rourke was acquired at a decent price as an exciting overseas pace prospect. However, using him means spending a crucial overseas slot on a player who is largely untested in Indian conditions and whose limited appearances elsewhere showed a high economy rate. LSG needs to prioritize proven, high-impact foreign players for their limited slots. Retaining an expensive overseas pacer whose role is uncertain and output risky is financially inefficient. Releasing O’Rourke provides flexible capital and opens an overseas slot.
