IPL 2025: LSG Press Conference in Kolkata Monday, Captain Announcement Expected

Key Takeaways

LSG to announce new captain.
Press conference on January 18.
Held at RPSG headquarters, Kolkata.
Rishabh Pant expected to be appointed captain.
KL Rahul has left for Delhi Capitals.

New Delhi, Jan 18 (NationPress) The IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is set to unveil its new captain ahead of the 2025 season during a press conference at the RPSG headquarters in Kolkata on Monday.

However, the franchise's official communication did not clarify the specific agenda of the press conference, which is anticipated to be addressed by Sanjiv Goenka, the principal owner of LSG and Chairman of the RPSG Group.

After reaching the playoffs in both the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons, LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2024, finishing seventh on the points table with a disappointing net run rate.

Officials from the franchise have indicated that the press conference could involve either the announcement of a new LSG captain or the debut of the franchise’s new jersey, especially since several team players are expected to be present.

During the mega auction in Jeddah last year, LSG shocked everyone by acquiring Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore, making him the most expensive player ever sold at an IPL auction. With KL Rahul, the captain since the 2022 season, departing for Delhi Capitals, LSG is widely expected to appoint Pant as their new captain.

Pant served as DC’s captain from 2021 to 2024, except for the 2023 season when he was sidelined due to recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident in December 2022. Before the retention deadline, he was released by DC, concluding his nine-year tenure with the team and subsequently being acquired by LSG in the mega auction.

Other potential candidates for the captaincy within LSG include the explosive West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran, who was the team's top retained player for Rs 21 crore and has previously captained in Rahul's absence, as well as South Africa T20I captain Aiden Markram and Australia T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh.

In a prior press conference held in August last year, LSG introduced former Indian left-arm fast-bowler Zaheer Khan as the new mentor for the team. Zaheer was previously affiliated with Mumbai Indians from 2018 to 2022 as the director of cricket and head of global development.