"I would actually go hard for Arshdeep" - Robin Uthappa on LSG's potential acquisitions in IPL 2025 auction

Former player Robin Uthappa reckons the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) should try their best to acquire Arshdeep Singh at the IPL 2025 auction. He also named Marcus Stoinis as the potential Right To Match (RTM) card option for the franchise.

LSG have spent ₹51 crore to retain five players — Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crore), Mayank Yadav (₹11 crore), Mohsin Khan (₹4 crore), and Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore) — ahead of the auction. They have a remaining purse of ₹69 crore and have an RTM card available for a capped player.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Uthappa opined that the Lucknow Super Giants should go all out for Arshdeep.

"I would go for Stonis as the RTM. I would actually go hard for Arshdeep because it's a venue he will also enjoy bowling in. It's a big venue, so fast bowlers like these venues. It has a little bit of bounce. It has a little bit of movement and the sizes are pretty big. He thrives under normal conditions anyway. I think he will thrive here a lot," he reasoned.

The former India batter expects Nicholas Pooran to captain LSG unless they get an Australian player, who can lead the side, at the auction.

"I think he (Pooran) will lead the side. I don't think there will be much of a thought process unless there is an Aussie that comes into the mix because you also have an Aussie coach there," Uthappa added.

LSG have an Aussie in Justin Langer as their head coach. They released KL Rahul, their skipper for the last three seasons, ahead of the auction and might look for a new captain at the auction.

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"I don't think the wickets will be conducive to him" - Robin Uthappa on Ishan Kishan as LSG's potential acquisition

Ishan Kishan was not retained by the Mumbai Indians. [P/C: iplt20.com]

In the same discussion, Robin Uthappa replied in the negative when asked whether Ishan Kishan would be a good acquisition for the Lucknow Super Giants.

"I don't think the wickets will be conducive to him. Ishan thrives on wickets that have a lot of pace and bounce. I think here there is a little bit of lateral movement and a little bit of turn, and we have seen him struggle to that in the past. So I have a feeling he would enjoy batting in Gujarat (for the Gujarat Titans)," he explained.

The cricketer-turned-commentator named Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, and Will Jacks as enticing overseas options for LSG.

"I would go back to QDK (Quinton de Kock). That had Kyle Mayers as well. He is a good pick as well. He is a foreign opener. Will Jacks could be a fit here. We saw him taking Rashid Khan to town. Conway plays spin well, so he could do well at Lucknow but I would keep Devon Conway's RTM at CSK itself," Uthappa elaborated.

De Kock and Mayers were released by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Jacks was released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) but the Bengaluru-based franchise could use the RTM for him.