Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opened up on Lucknow Super Giants’ strengths for the upcoming IPL 2025. The renowned commentator feels the explosive batting order of Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller will be the team’s strength.
While the franchise retained Nicholas Pooran for INR 21 crore, they were able to rope in the services of Rishabh Pant for a whopping amount of INR 27 crore. David Miller was bagged for INR 7.50 crore in the mega auction and the left-handed trio can demolish any bowling attack.
“The middle order is absolutely explosive. It is incredible. They have three left-handers. When you pick three left-handers, the opposing team says they would play an off-spinner. Firstly, very few teams have off-spinners. One is Ravichandran Ashwin, another is Washington Sundar, and after that, which quality off-spinner are you going to see in whichever place?” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Secondly, all three left-handers, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant and David Miller, play spin well. You rarely get overseas batters who play spin very well. Nicholas Pooran is right up there with the best in the world. That’s why he was retained. David Miller, again, is a player who plays spin very well,” Chopra added.
The renowned commentator added that LSG have a flexible batting order and they would look to deliver as a unit.
“He just scored a century in a losing cause in the Champions Trophy. So they have left-handers and all three will come in the middle. They might come one after the other, unless Rishabh thinks he should go at No. 3, and Nicholas and Miller can be kept at No. 5 and No. 6. I see a slightly flexible batting order,” Chopra elaborated.
Furthermore, LSG also has the services of foreign batters like Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Matthew Breetzke.
“You can assume the overseas batting options to be another of their strengths, where you start with Aiden Markram, and then Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran and David Miller. So you have got lots of good overseas batting options,” he said.
Chopra concluded by saying that LSG has a promising Indian seam attack of Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Akash Deep, Akash Singh and Avesh Khan though it lacks experience.
“A young fast-bowling attack which is extremely promising. It includes Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Akash Deep, Akash Singh and Avesh Khan. The Indian fast-bowling core is promising. However, it is slightly inexperienced as well,” Chopra observed.
LSG will begin their IPL campaign against Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on 24th March.
