IPL 2025: All-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to sign an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after going unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Thakur will replace injured pacer Mohsin Khan in the squad, which is led by Rishabh Pant.
Although an official announcement is pending, sources confirm that Thakur has been informed of the decision and will travel with the team to Visakhapatnam for their season opener against Delhi Capitals, according to TOI report.
Mohsin has been sidelined with an ACL injury, which ruled him out of cricket for the past three months. His comeback attempt was further hampered by a calf strain suffered during LSG’s training sessions. With multiple pacers still recovering at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE), the franchise was forced to seek an injury replacement.
LSG’s fast-bowling unit has been hit hard, with key seamers like Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, and Mayank Yadav yet to join the squad. While Akash Deep and Mayank are recovering at the CoE, Avesh is still regaining full fitness after a knee injury. Mayank, who has been plagued by multiple injury setbacks since October last year, has resumed bowling at reduced intensity but remains far from match-ready.
With uncertainty surrounding their pace attack, LSG mentor Zaheer Khan acknowledged the challenges but emphasized adaptability. “The situation is dynamic for some of our players due to injuries. Some are at the National Cricket Academy, while others are working with their physios. Right now, it will not be right to say anything. The situation will be dynamic this season,” Zaheer stated in a media interaction.
Thakur, with his experience, will lead LSG’s pace attack in the absence of their core seamers. The squad currently has only one overseas pacer in Shamar Joseph, along with young Indian quicks like Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Prince Yadav. While the spin department looks settled, the team’s fast-bowling options remain a concern ahead of the new season.