Three LSG players will likely have a point to prove in IPL 2025 [Source: @LucknowIPL/X.com]
The IPL 2025 season is about to begin and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will step in with new captain, Rishabh Pant. Moreover, three important players will find themselves on the edge, having a lot to prove.
Since their debut in 2022, LSG have made it to the playoffs twice in three seasons. This year, they parted ways with KL Rahul to sign dynamic wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant for a humongous deal of INR 27 crore.
Pant, who was a part of India’s Champions Trophy winning squad, didn’t get a single game to play as his role in white-ball cricket seems to be diminishing. Moreover, with the extra pressure of leadership, the IPL 2025 season will be a real test for him.
Well, Pant is not the only one under fire this year. We have shortlisted three LSG players who have a lot to prove this IPL season to stay relevant in the league.
3. Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.com]
Criterion | IPL 2024 | T20Is |
---|---|---|
Matches | 16 | 25 |
Wickets | 19 | 27 |
Average | 27.68 | 27.85 |
Economy | 9.59 | 9.04 |
Talented right-arm fast bowler Avesh Khan has been brought back by LSG for IPL 2025, solely on the basis of his potential. Avesh impressed in his four-year stint with DC and made his international debut for the Indian team as well. In 25 T20Is, he scalped 27 wickets before advancing to the ODI format.
However, Avesh hasn’t played any international game since November 2024 and wasn’t a part of India’s main squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He is slowly getting sidelined with newcomers like Harshit Rana rising to the occasion.
Hence, this IPL 2025 season, Avesh Khan must perform and exceed expectations to prove that he still deserves a chance to make a comeback into the T20I side.
2. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi [Source: @dr_artisticsoul/X.com]
Criterion | IPL 2024 | T20Is |
---|---|---|
Matches | 14 | 42 |
Wickets | 10 | 61 |
Average | 38.30 | 19.37 |
Economy | 8.77 | 7.35 |
Another talented Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi is also facing a make-or-break IPL season. Bishnoi, who once ranked as the no.1 spinner in ICC’s T20I bowler rankings, is losing his opportunities to the likes of Varun Chakravarthy.
The latter played a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy win and is slowly becoming India’s first-choice spinner. Under this circumstance, Bishnoi could get diminished from the setup if he fails to match Varun’s standards in the upcoming IPL season.
While Bishnoi’s numbers are satisfactory, his current form isn’t. He must prove that he can deliver wickets consistently and bowl economical spells under any conditions.
1. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant [Source: @DrSanjivGoenka/X.com]
Criterion | IPL 2024 | T20Is |
---|---|---|
Matches | 13 | 76 |
Runs | 446 | 1209 |
Average | 40.54 | 23.25 |
Strike Rate | 155.40 | 127.26 |
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, despite fetching an enormous deal of INR 27 crore, will also be under pressure in IPL 2025. Over the last couple of years, his role in India’s white-ball set-up has diminished.
He is becoming irrelevant in T20Is and ODIs and the Indian team management already seems to prefer the composure of KL Rahul over Pant’s aggressive intent. As a result, Rahul played every single game of the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2025.
With Rahul gaining success as a lower middle-order batter, Rishabh Pant faces the threat of getting dropped from the white-ball squads. Hence, the upcoming IPL season is an opportunity for him to prove why he is relevant and effective in the T20I format.