IPL 2022: Strongest Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Playing XI – Full Player List, Squad and Captain after Mega Auction
Bought for a whopping sum of INR 7,090 crores last year, the RPSG group owned Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) continued their surge towards the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by entering the two-day mega auction in Bangalore.
LSG had named three major pre-auctioning signings in the form of opening batter KL Rahul, Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis and uncapped Indian wristspinner Ravi Bishnoi. LSG also appointed Rahul as their captain for the IPL 2022 despite the player parting ways with Punjab Kings (PBKS) after two unsuccessful seasons at the helm.
LSG backed these signings with some notable buys at the IPL 2022 Mega Auction, with their overseas contingent featuring the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder and Mark Wood and the Indian section of the squad comprising of Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham and Avesh Khan.
The finalised squad for LSG threw up some obvious positives that are expected to hold the team in good stead but also some evident chinks that they’ll have to cover up well in the biggest T20 league.
KL Rahul has the chance to make amends as skipper with the Lucknow Super Giants.
Full Lucknow Super Giants Squad for IPL 2022:
Evin Lewis, Manan Vohra, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Jason Holder, Karan Sharma, Krishnappa Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Dushmantha Chameera, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahbaaz Nadeem
Strongest Lucknow Super Giants Playing XI for IPL 2022:
Manish Pandey, Quinton de Kock (wk), Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul (c), Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan
LSG have an interesting mix of players up their sleeves, with their first XI throwing up some strong talented individuals who can win the game on their day. But collectively, they do have a few issues that they’ll have to manage carefully.
One of them could be where their skipper and unarguably their best batter Rahul bats? While the ownership group has hinted that they are looking form the De Kock-Rahul pairing at the top, historically it is in the middle-order where Rahul tends to bat at his best. A sense of clarity and urgency to the proceedings seemingly unleashes the beast inside Rahul the batter.
One other obvious plus behind this move is that it would allow Rahul to control the middle-order and guide the likes of Hooda, Krunal, Gowtham and enable them to play in their most preferred scenarios. Along the similar lines, Rahul’s rightful demotion in the order would give Pandey or say a Manan Vohra the role his batting approach suits the most: anchoring the innings at the top of the order.
On paper, LSG poses a strong outlook about them as they have depth in their batting, including powerhitting ability, and multiple bowling options with the presence of Marcus Stoinis and Jason Holder.
Their bowling also has couple of important bases covered, with Wood and Avesh proving hard-length fast-bowling and Bishnoi some unorthodox wristspin. If they can manage their batting resources well and keep their death-bowling upbeat, they could be in for a good tournament.
KL Rahul – Lucknow Super Giants Captain for IPL 2022
Despite some heavy criticism related to his captaincy style and understated demeanour during India’s tour of South Africa, LSG have entrusted KL Rahul with leadership duties. The IPL hasn’t yet been kind to Rahul the skipper, as both his campaigns with PBKS ended in a league stage exit. But perhaps a stronger team, with greater depth, gives him an opportunity to make amends on this front and shut his naysayers up once for all.
Lucknow Super Giants Coaching and Support Staff for IPL 2022
Lucknow had appointed Zimbabwean great and coaching giant Andy Flower as the head coach for IPL 2022. They made former India World Cup winner and two-time IPL winning captain Gautam Gambhir as their mentor. The team also brought in ex India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya as the assistant coach to Flower.