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Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had a mixed IPL 2024 season, with strong batting performances but inconsistent bowling. In the powerplay, they focused on wicket preservation, scoring steadily but struggling to control the opposition’s progress. Their bowling, especially in the powerplay, lacked early breakthroughs, allowing teams to set strong foundations. The middle overs showed some improvement, but LSG’s bowlers still struggled to maintain pressure, and their death-over bowling remained expensive, despite occasional breakthroughs. LSG’s batting, on the other hand, excelled in the middle and death overs, with high averages and strike rates, enabling strong finishes. At Ekana Stadium, LSG adapted well to changing pitch conditions, with pacers playing a pivotal role. The team also faced challenges off the field, particularly around KL Rahul’s captaincy, which led to his eventual release. Rahul’s low strike rate, coupled with inconsistent performances from key bowlers, hindered the team’s success. For the upcoming mega auction, LSG aims to target a dynamic opener, a reliable seamer for death overs, and a captain who can balance leadership with batting strength to address their gaps.
Powerplay
LSG had a mixed-bag IPL 2024 campaign, with substantial batting performances but inconsistent bowling. Their batting was steady in the powerplay, with an average score of 47.14 and a strike rate of 130.95. This approach prioritized wicket preservation over aggressive starts, allowing a foundation for the middle overs On the contrary their bowling performances painted a different picture. During the powerplay, their bowlers struggled to make early breakthroughs, with a high bowling average of 59.14 and a strike rate of 25.2, allowing opposing teams to establish strong starts. The middle overs offered slight improvement, but an average of 92.57 and a strike rate of 21.56 highlighted their inability to control the run flow or take regular wickets. Although LSG showed some ability to strike in the death overs with a bowling strike rate of 16.1, they were still expensive, reflected in a high average of 47.21, which allowed opponents to capitalize in the closing phases.
Middle and death overs
LSG’s strengths lay in their batting, particularly in the middle and death overs, where their ability to accelerate and finish strongly often gave them competitive totals. However, their bowling remained a significant weakness across all phases, leaving them vulnerable in close contests. Addressing powerplay inefficiencies and finding consistent wicket-takers, especially in the middle overs, will be crucial for LSG to improve and become more balanced in future seasons. LSG truly excelled during the middle overs, boasting an impressive batting average of 94.57 and a strike rate of 143.29. This phase saw consistent runs with high-scoring efficiency, creating strong platforms for late acceleration. In the death overs, their batting proved formidable with an average of 44.35 and a strike rate of 161.72, indicating strong effective boundary-hitting and finishing capabilities, which were pivotal in closing games.
LSG’s performance at Ekana
Lucknow delivered a strong performance at their home ground, Ekana Stadium, securing four wins out of seven matches. Traditionally known for its slow pitch favouring spinners, the venue witnessed a surprising shift this season with higher scores being posted. Key contributions came from the middle order, led by Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran, who averaged 31.8 and 33, respectively at Ekana. Despite the pitch’s historic reputation, pacers thrived this year, claiming 29 wickets with an economy of 9.65, an average of 28.28, and a strike rate of 17.59. In contrast, spinners had a subdued impact, taking only 12 wickets at an average of 34.33 and a strike rate of 25.50. The performance data highlights a notable evolution in Ekana Stadium’s pitch dynamics. The dominance of pacers over spinners indicates either a shift in pitch preparation or a change in team strategies. With a higher economy rate but frequent breakthroughs, pacers proved pivotal. Meanwhile, the middle order’s consistency underpins Lucknow’s success, reflecting adaptability to the changing conditions.
The issues surrounding KL Rahul’s captaincy and his reported friction with LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka became a focal point of the franchise’s struggles. Tensions escalated after a crushing 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 8, when a clip of a heated exchange between Rahul and Goenka went viral. This incident fueled speculation about Rahul’s future with the team, with reports surfacing about his potential exit ahead of the 2025 mega auction. The speculation was confirmed when LSG officially released Rahul. Reflecting on the decision, the Karnataka batter stated in an interview, “I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom, where the team atmosphere could be something lighter. Sometimes you need to move away and find something good for yourself.”
LSG also faced several other issues in IPL 2024 that hampered their performance. Rahul’s strike rate was a major concern despite scoring 520 runs in 14 matches. His strike rate of 134.61, coupled with slow innings like a 37-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians and a 33-ball 29 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, drew criticism. These struggles were compounded by his omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad. The team’s bowling unit also lacked depth and experience. While Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq picked up 11 and 14 wickets respectively, Naveen’s economy rate often proved costly, and Yash Thakur, despite a standout 5/30 against Gujarat Titans, struggled against teams like SRH, KKR, and RR. Devdutt Padikkal, expected to deliver after being traded from Rajasthan Royals, failed to impress and managed just 38 runs in seven games. Mayank Yadav’s promising start with seven wickets in four matches was cut short by a muscle tear, further weakening LSG’s bowling attack.
What do they have and what do they need?
In terms of retentions, the Lucknow-based franchise has held onto key players: Nicholas Pooran (₹21 Cr), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 Cr), Mayank Yadav (₹11 Cr), Mohsin Khan (₹4 Cr), and Ayush Badoni (₹4 Cr). With a healthy purse of ₹69 crores, the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team is well-positioned to make impactful acquisitions this season. Now the question remains, who can LSG target to acquire in this year’s mega auction?
Mitchell Starc: Starc’s experience and ability to thrive under pressure make him an excellent addition to LSG. Pairing him with young Indian bowlers like Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Yash Thakur would create a well-rounded pace attack capable of tackling any challenge. Last year for the Kolkata Knight Riders, he scalped 17 wickets with a bowling strike rate of 14.76
Jake Fraser-McGurk: The Aussie opener is set to be one of the most sought-after players in the auction. With a phenomenal strike rate of 234.00 and 330 runs in nine IPL games, he could be the dynamic opener LSG needs to dominate the powerplay.
Shreyas Iyer: Iyer offers LSG a reliable and experienced Indian batter for the middle order. With Nicholas Pooran and other power hitters in the lineup, Iyer’s ability to anchor innings makes him an ideal replacement for KL Rahul’s role in the squad.
Now coming to the RTM card, here are the players LSG can use RTM to bring back to the team with one capped player:
Marcus Stoinis: With 499 runs at a strike rate of 147.52 last season, Stoinis is a strong candidate for LSG’s RTM card. However, his potential to command a hefty price at the mega auction might challenge the team’s retention strategy.
Naveen-ul-Haq: The Afghan pacer was LSG’s standout death-over specialist last season, leading their bowling attack with 14 wickets in 10 matches. Despite his release, LSG may consider using the RTM card to bring him back, given his reliability in pressure situations.
As LSG prepares for the mega auction, they have several opportunities to strengthen their squad strategically. Their priority will be securing a dynamic opening pair capable of exploiting the powerplay and providing explosive starts. The team also needs a reliable seamer who excels in death overs and consistently takes wickets under pressure. This addition would address the gaps in their bowling attack, especially after releasing key players like Naveen-ul-Haq. Most importantly, LSG requires a captain who can lead effectively without sacrificing their batting performance
