The mega auction for the 15th season of IPL took place over 2 days last Saturday and Sunday. Each team was allocated a maximum of Rs 90 crore to bid for the players. Out of 10 teams, the newly formed Lucknow Super Giants were the only team to use the total amount accurately without wasting a single rupee.
Former captain Gautam Gambhir, who has won the IPL trophy twice for KKR, is the advisor to the Lucknow Super Giants team. Gambhir represented the Lucknow team in the IPL mega auction. Gautam Gambhir, who knew the trick of winning the trophy in the IPL, led the team brilliantly in the auction.
Prior to the auction, the Lucknow team had bought three players, KL Rahul, Marcus Stones and Ravi Bishnoi, and appointed KL Rahul as their captain. The Lucknow team, which came up with a clear plan on what kind of players they wanted in the auction, bought the players for a total of Rs 90 crore without spending a single rupee.
Lucknow team has acquired South African wicketkeeper-top-order batsman Quinton de Kok for Rs 6.75 crore to start with Rahul. Not only T Crow, but also West Indies action batsman Evin Lewis was taken as another opening option for Rs 2 crore.
Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda took Rs 4.60 crore and Rs 5.75 crore respectively as middle order batting options.
The Lucknow team, which had included all-rounder Marcus Stones in the squad before the auction, also showed interest in all-rounders in the auction. Lucknow beat match-winner Jason Holder, one of the best all-rounders of all time, for Rs 8.75 crore and spin all-rounder Krunal Pandya for Rs 8.25 crore. Another spin all-rounder, Krishnappa Gautam, knocked off Rs 90 lakh. The Lucknow team picked quality all-rounders Marcus Stones and Jason Holder as the right choice.
The Lucknow team, which also played a key role in the selection of fast bowlers, picked up Ankit Rajput for Rs 50 lakh along with fast bowlers Aavesh Khan of India (Rs 10 crore) and Mark Wood of England (Rs 7.5 crore). Shabas Nadeem, Manan Vora, Karan Sharma, Ayush Pathani and some of the uncapped players were also included in the squad.
The Lucknow team is one of the key teams in performing well in the IPL mega auction and buying the best players and building a strong team. The Lucknow team did it with full satisfaction, despite giving some players too much money, as they needed for the future of the team.
Let’s take a look at the excellent, strong swinging Eleven combination of the Lucknow Super Giants team making their debut in the IPL 15th season.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Gock will join captain KL Rahul as the opening batsman. Manish Pandey will be in the 3rd row and Deepak Hooda will be in the 4th row.
As the Lucknow team has all-rounders, they are all-rounders from the 5th row. Marcus Stones and Jason Holder will play 2 fast bowling all-rounders, followed by Krunal Pandya and Krishnappa Gautam. They will be joined by wrist spinner Ravi Bishno and fast bowlers Mark Wood and Avesh Khan.
Proposed Lucknow Super Giants Team:
KL Rahul (capt), Quinton de Gock (wicket keeper), Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stones, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gautam, Ravi Bishnoi, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan.
Last Updated Feb 17, 2022, 9:55 PM IST