3 Marquee players LSG should target in IPL 2025 auction ft. Shreyas Iyer

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is just around the corner and all ten franchises are working to assemble the best possible squads. The auction for IPL 18 will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25.

Lucknow Super Giants released their skipper KL Rahul but have retained three capped and two uncapped players - Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan. They have Rs 69 crores left in their kitty, along with a right-to-match card.

They have maintained a perfect balance between youth and experience, but with a significant chunk of money left in their purse, LSG will be looking to buy some of the marquee players who are set to go under the hammer in the upcoming auction.

Since their entry into IPL, LSG have done a reasonable job in the auction but they are yet to win a title so far. Here is a list of three marquee players LSG should target in the auction:

# 1. Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal celebrates after picking a wicket against DC in the 2024 IPL - Source: Getty

Despite his stellar run for the Rajasthan Royals from 2022 to 2024, Chahal was released by the Royals ahead of the 2025 auction. He picked 66 wickets in the last three seasons.

Chahal will enter the upcoming auction as a marquee player and given his credentials in the IPL, he should be a hot property in the auction. One franchise which might go all out for the leggie is the Lucknow Super Giants. The pitch at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has offered assistance to the spinners.

He could end up forging a great partnership with Ravi Bishnoi. Chahal is an intelligent bowler who keeps trying different things to bamboozle the batters. On surfaces which offer turn, Chahal has the ability to run through any batting line-up.

# 2. Shreyas Iyer

Having released their skipper, KL Rahul, LSG will be in desperate need of someone to lead the team. Shreyas Iyer could be the ideal candidate. He led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third title in 2024, but his individual performances have dropped in the recent past.

The Super Giants want to build a core of players who can serve them for a long time and Iyer fits that bill.

Iyer is extremely proficient against spinners and can take responsibility in the middle overs, especially on pitches which might offer some grip and turn for the spinners.

# 3. Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami during his time with PBKS. Source: Getty

Mohammed Shami recently played his first professional match since his record-breaking performance in the 2023 World Cup.

Shami is an attacking bowler who can be lethal with the new ball and can also rattle batters with inch-perfect yorkers in the death. Shami has done a commendable job for every team he has played in so far.

A match-winner on his own right, Shami will be on the radar of quite a few franchises. With the experience of playing for different franchises in the IPL and playing across the globe, Shami’s inclusion could come in handy for LSG to break their trophy jinx.