Shardul Thakur Joins Lucknow Super Giants For Rs 2 Crore: Report
Lucknow Super Giants have been hit by injuries to as many as four of their Indian bowlers including Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep and Avesh Khan.
India allrounder Shardul Thakur went unsold at the IPL mega auction last year but has managed to land a deal with Lucknow Super Giants at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Thakur reportedly has replaced injured left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan in the Rishabh Pant-led LSG squad for IPL 2025.
LSG open their campaign on Monday when they take on hosts Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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As per The Indian Express, BCCI’s Center of Excellence (formerly National Cricket Academy) has told LSG that Khan is “50 per cent fit" and could be available during the season.
Thakur has traveled to Vizag for LSG’s season opener and is expected to open the bowling alongside West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph.
The publication further reported that Thakur signed his contract only after LSG received a fitness clearance report from COE on Saturday afternoon.
LSG have been dealing with injuries to four of their Indian fast bowlers ahead of the start of the season. Besides Khan, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan are also recovering from various fitness concerns.
Akash and Avesh will reportedly miss LSG’s first three games while Mayank is said to be fit by mid of April.
LSG mentor and former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan acknowledged the franchise has to be ready for “uncertainties" given their injury concerns.
“We can’t really say much as our players are currently with the NCA. We are working alongside them to see how things move forward. The situation is dynamic and when you’re talking about the IPL you have to be ready for uncertainties to occur. We plan for the season accordingly with 24 players, we have to field the playing XI that upholds the brand of cricket we want and win. This is a positive unit and you will get to see a positive approach," Zaheer had said during a media interaction.
LSG are hoping for a vastly improved show from the last year that saw them 7th on the IPL standings. As a fallout of their poor show, the franchise parted ways with their captain KL Rahul before splurging a record-breaking Rs 27 crore to rope in Rishabh Pant.
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