IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant, Pooran, Markram And Marsh – Who Will Be LSG Captain & Openers?

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka opened up on the team's captaincy candidates and the opening batting options, says the franchise are spoilt for choices in both departments ahead of IPL 2025.

India batter KL Rahul had led LSG since the Lucknow-based side made their Indian Premier League debut in 2022, with Krunal Pandya also captaining the team when the batter was ruled out from the later half of IPL 2023.

But the franchise opted to not retain the duo ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last month. The franchise, however, retained the services of another player who stood in as captain in Rahul's absence last season.

The Lucknow Super Giants retained West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran for Rs 21 Crore before the auction and later added more leadership options in previous Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant, current Australia and South Africa T20I captains Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram.

Who will be LSG captain in IPL 2025?

As experts and fans continue to debate about their next captain with Pant backed by many to take over the role, LSG owner Goenka said the franchise is happy with the big leadership pool and added the official announcement will be made soon.

"People get surprised easily. I don't think you get surprised easily. It's been decided. But we will announce in the next few days. We have four leaders in our team - Rishabh, Pooran, Markram and Mitch Marsh," said Goenka in a video on former India opener Aakash Chopra's YouTube channel on Monday (December 2).

"So, it becomes a very strong leadership pool of intellect, thought and strategy. They are all people who can go for the mindset to win. Rishabh has that hunger, and passion that he wants to win, and do something and show it. So, the team is good and we are happy."

Who will open the batting for LSG?

Apart from the captaincy void, many question marks remain on LSG's opening options following the release of former openers Rahul, Quinton de Kock and Kyle Mayers. LSG owner Goenka said the opening call will be taken by the captain and the coaching setup.

Goenka did, however, add that the franchise looked at strengthening the middle-order, but feels there is enough opening options, including Pant as well as Marsh and Markram, who have both opened the batting earlier for their national teams.

"We decided that we had to make our middle order strong and have an Indian core. However, auctions don't go exactly the way you plan it. We made a very big go for Jos Buttler but we fell one or two bid amounts short. Zak (Zaheer Khan), JL (Justin Langer), and the captain will decide it," the LSG owner added.

"Those are calls that frankly are beyond my capability and competence. Zak has a thought process and I think he has already spoken to the captain a couple of times, and I think Zak, Langer and the captain will be meeting soon together, and all three of them will have a conversation and they will take a call. Whatever their call is, I will support it 100 per cent."