New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are dealing with an injury crisis in their pace department as they gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. LSG will open their campaign against Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday, March 24. Ahead of their opener, LSG are sweating over the fitness of some of their key Indian pacers.
While left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan is with the squad but not fully fit, the likes of Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep and Avesh Khan are yet to link up with the rest of the squad due to respective injury issues. Young pace sensation Mayank is currently at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru where he is undergoing rehab having recently recovered from a lumbar stress injury and is likely to miss the first few matches of the season for LSG.
Mayank has reportedly resumed bowling at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence but he is yet to attain match fitness and get the nod from the medical team for IPL 2025. His LSG teammate Akash Deep is also at the BCCI Centre of Excellence where he is recovering from a back injury suffered during India’s tour of Australia and he is also likely to miss the initial few games of the season for the franchise.
While Mayank was retained by LSG for Rs 11 crore, the franchise paid Rs 8 crore to sign Akash Deep at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. As per a report in the Times of India, Avesh has regained fitness after recovering from a knee injury recently but is yet to join the Lucknow Super Giants squad. With doubts over the fitness of as many as 4 pacers, LSG are in a spot of bother ahead of the start of the IPL 2025.
Shardul Thakur, Shivam Mavi waiting in wings
As Lucknow Super Giants face a race against time to get a settled pace unit ahead of the start of the season, they have backup options in Shardul Thakur and Shivam Mavi, who are already with the squad. Both Shardul and Mavi went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction last year. However, they have been roped in as net bowlers by LSG ahead of the upcoming season.
Shardul and Mavi might land an IPL contract soon as LSG have some difficult decisions to make as far as their pace attack is concerned. It remains to be seen if LSG would play the waiting game with the likes of Mayank, Mohsin and Akash Deep or will they replace them with fit Shardul and Mavi.
Shivam Mavi and Shardul Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, have both been training with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad ahead of IPL 2025 and might be roped in as replacements for the injured pacers at the franchise. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
