As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 approaches, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have been hit with yet another injury setback. Reports from the Times of India suggest that Akash Deep is not expected to play in the opening games of the tournament due to an injury.
Akash Deep has been sidelined since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, struggling to regain his fitness in time for IPL 2025. The fast bowler sustained a back injury during the fourth match against Australia and has since been diligently working to recover.
Akash Deep has been putting in the hard yards at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, but reports indicate he hasn’t yet received the green light from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to return to play. This uncertainty could significantly impact LSG’s strategy for the season’s early matches.
Joining the growing list of injured LSG players are fellow pacers Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Mayank Yadav. All three are still on the mend, casting doubt over their availability for the start of the tournament.
There’s a bit of hope with Mayank Yadav, who has begun bowling again at the BCCI’s CEO. However, he hasn’t yet bowled at full capacity, meaning his participation in the initial stages of IPL 2025 remains questionable.
Mohsin Khan, unfortunately, is dealing with a calf injury, which makes his chances of playing this season quite slim. On a brighter note, Avesh Khan has reportedly regained full fitness ahead of the season. However, the exact timing of his return to the Lucknow Super Giants squad is still up in the air.
As LSG grapples with these challenges, they are considering offering contracts to Shardul Thakur and Shivam Mavi. Both were unsold at the IPL 2025 auction but have been training with the team and might be pivotal as cover players.
Shimam Mavi and Shardul Thakur are making the most of their time training with LSG. Despite not being picked up at the auction, they see this as a golden opportunity to prove their worth in the league.
Leading the Lucknow Super Giants this season is captain Rishabh Pant. The team will kick off their campaign against the Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam on March 24. After a disappointing run last year, they are eager to make a strong comeback this season.
Lastly, for those interested in off-field drama, Sourav Ganguly recently criticized Rishabh Pant for his overly aggressive approach in Tests, remarking, “You can’t keep swinging.”
