Lucknow Super Giants’ owner, Sanjeev Goenka, has suggested a potential batting role for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025, hinting that the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman might open the innings or take the No. 3 position. Goenka further mentioned that the franchise would soon unveil its captain for the upcoming season. Rishabh Pant made history at the IPL 2025 mega auction, held in Jeddah, becoming the most expensive player ever purchased in the history of the cash-rich league, with LSG securing his services for a whopping price of ₹27 crore.
“Options are to open with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, Marsh and Rishabh Pant, or Markram and Rishabh. Now that is a call they have to take whether Rishabh will come at No. 3 or No. 2. Those are calls that frankly are beyond my capability and competence,” Goenka said in the interaction with Aakash Chopra on his YouTube.
As a result, Lucknow Super Giants’ potential opening options may feature a combination of Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, or Aiden Markram. Goenka also disclosed that the franchise had targeted acquiring Jos Buttler, who was eventually secured by the Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore.
“We had prepared three scenarios. One was with Rishabh Pant and Jos Buttler. So the idea was to go with an explosive opening pair that gives 60 to 85 runs in the powerplay. Jos was in lot one. So if we had succeeded, that was the way we would have gone. We did not get that,” he replied.
Lucknow Super Giants, who advanced to the IPL playoffs twice in three seasons under KL Rahul’s leadership, chose to retain key players, including Nicholas Pooran (₹21 CR), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 CR), Mayank Yadav (₹11 CR), Mohsin Khan (₹4 CR), and Ayush Badoni (₹4 CR).
Read more: BCCI “Hesitant” on PCB’s Hybrid Proposal Going Forward: Reports
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
