IPL: The gaps Lucknow Super Giants need to fill heading into the next season

IPL: The gaps Lucknow Super Giants need to fill heading into the next season

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registered their sixth win of IPL 2025 by defeating table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad by 33 runs on Thursday. Though already out of the playoff race, the win came at the right time for Rishabh Pant and his team. With one match to go, they’ll now aim to end the season on a positive note. However, LSG have several areas to work on before the next IPL season. Here are the key gaps they need to fill:

Utilising Pant the Batter – No Captaincy, Maybe a New Leader

Rishabh Pant is going through one of his worst IPL seasons.

Rishabh Pant is going through one of his worst IPL seasons. LSG showed huge trust in him by spending ₹27 crore at the mega auction and making him their captain. But the extra pressure — along with the price tag — seems to have affected his performance.

In 13 matches so far, Pant has scored only 151 runs at a strike rate of 107.09. LSG may think about using him only as a wicketkeeper-batter next season, without the added burden of captaincy.

Nicholas Pooran or Aiden Markram could be good leadership options. With fewer responsibilities, Pant might find his rhythm with the bat again. There was even a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting LSG might release him ahead of the next auction due to his high price tag.

Pant responded: “I understand fake News gives more traction To content but let’s not built everything around it . Little sense and credible news will help more rather making fake news with agenda . Thanks have a good day . Let’s be responsible and sensible what we put out on social media.”

I understand fake News gives more traction To content but lets not built everything around it . Little sense and credible news will help more rather making fake news with agenda . Thanks have a good day . Lets be responsible and sensible what we put out on social media
Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) May 22, 2025

In T20 cricket, having a trusted finisher is vital to score quick runs at the end. LSG brought in David Miller this season. He had done well for GT, especially in IPL 2024 with a strike rate of 151.07 in nine matches. But for LSG, Miller couldn’t repeat that form. In 11 games this season, he batted with a strike rate of 127.49 and averaged 30.60. LSG may need to release him and bring in another Indian or overseas player who has proven finishing ability at the international level.

Need for a Batting All-Rounder

This is another gap for LSG. They currently have Shardul Thakur and Shahbaz Ahmed. Both are all-rounders, but more with the ball than with the bat. Shardul has taken 13 wickets in 10 matches. But with the bat, he’s only scored 18 runs from five innings. Shahbaz has experience too, but hasn’t been consistent with the bat. LSG need a proper batting all-rounder who can add depth and balance to the playing XI.

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A Reliable Indian Spinner Is Needed

Ravi Bishnoi is their main spinner. He’s been with LSG since 2022 and had a strong 2023 season with 16 wickets at an economy of 7.74. But his form has dipped since. Last season, he managed only 10 wickets with an economy of 8.77. This year, he has taken just nine wickets in 11 matches, conceding runs at 10.83.

Bishnoi relies heavily on googlies, which has made him predictable. Batters are reading him well and scoring freely. LSG could benefit from signing an experienced Indian spinner. It would help Bishnoi too, by giving him support and guidance.

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An Experienced Overseas Pacer to Lead the Attack

LSG’s three main overseas players this season have been Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran. All have done reasonably well. David Miller was also part of the squad early on, but later William O’Rourke came in as a replacement for the injured Mayank Yadav. O’Rourke impressed in the last game against GT, taking three wickets at an economy of 6.75 in a high-scoring match. However, LSG’s Indian pacers—like Avesh Khan and Akash Deep—have struggled with their economy rates. Akash Deep has gone at 12.05 runs per over in six matches. Avesh Khan has taken 12 wickets in 12 games but concedes runs at 10.26. LSG need an experienced overseas fast bowler to guide this young attack. Someone like Josh Hazlewood at RCB or Kagiso Rabada at GT could be a great example to follow.