LSG's Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi begin Manchester training camp with Langer and Williamson
Synopsis
Lucknow Super Giants have sent two of their most promising young batters — Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuwanshi — to Manchester for an off-season camp under Justin Langer and Kane Williamson. The move, enabled by the RPSG Group's dual ownership of LSG and Manchester Super Giants, is the clearest sign yet that LSG is building for the long term after a bottom-of-the-table IPL finish.
Key Takeaways
Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuwanshi have arrived in Manchester for an LSG off-season training camp.
They will train under head coach Justin Langer and strategic advisor Kane Williamson , both currently coaching Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred .
Choudhary scored 170 runs in 10 IPL games at a strike-rate of 141.66 , including a match-winning 54 not out against KKR at Eden Gardens .
Raghuwanshi played 3 games and scored 29 runs in the recently concluded IPL season.
LSG finished bottom of the IPL points table and has since signed Kuldeep Yadav for ₹13.5 crore and traded Rishabh Pant to Delhi Capitals .
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday confirmed that young batting prospects Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuwanshi have arrived in Manchester for a specialised off-season training camp, where they will work under LSG head coach Justin Langer and franchise strategic advisor and former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. The development signals the franchise's intent to invest in developing domestic talent beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Who Is Coaching and Why Manchester
Both Langer and Williamson are currently in England in their coaching capacities for the Manchester Super Giants (MSG), the franchise competing in The Hundred men's competition, led by Aiden Markram. MSG is owned by the RPSG Group — the same parent company that owns LSG — making the cross-franchise arrangement a natural fit. The camp will focus heavily on technical adaptations required to succeed on English pitches and on refining the skills demanded by modern T20 cricket.
How the Two Batters Fared in IPL 2025
Wicketkeeper-batter Choudhary, who represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket, produced a standout knock of 54 not out during the recent IPL season — a match-winning effort that steered LSG past the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a tense chase at Eden Gardens. Across ten games, he accumulated 170 runs at a strike-rate of 141.66. Raghuwanshi, who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket, featured in three matches and scored 29 runs. Despite individual flashes, LSG finished at the bottom of the points table this season.
LSG's Broader Rebuild
The Manchester camp is part of a wider restructuring at LSG. Last month, the franchise acquired left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for ₹13.5 crore ahead of the next season, following the trade of former captain Rishabh Pant to the Delhi Capitals. The moves collectively suggest LSG is recalibrating both its playing philosophy and its investment in youth development.
What the Camp Aims to Achieve
Training in England offers conditions — seaming pitches, overcast skies, and lateral movement — that are starkly different from the sub-continent surfaces on which both players have built their games. Exposure to these conditions under the guidance of Langer, a former Australia Test opener, and Williamson, one of the most technically accomplished batters of his generation, could accelerate their development as all-format prospects. LSG announced the camp on their social media accounts, writing: 'New conditions. New challenges. New learnings. Mukul & Akshat have landed in Manchester for a training camp with Justin Langer and Kane Williamson.' How quickly the two translate these learnings into IPL performance next season will be the real measure of this investment.
Point of View
Turning The Hundred into a de facto development league. The real question is whether the camp produces measurable technical gains or remains a branding exercise. Given that Choudhary showed genuine finishing ability and Raghuwanshi has barely had a look-in, the stakes are asymmetric — one of them needs to emerge as a reliable middle-order option for LSG's rebuild to have credibility.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Mukul Choudhary and Akshat Raghuwanshi training in Manchester?
The two LSG batters are in Manchester for a specialised off-season training camp under head coach Justin Langer and strategic advisor Kane Williamson, aimed at adapting their games to English conditions and improving their T20 skills.
Who are Justin Langer and Kane Williamson in the LSG setup?
Justin Langer is the head coach of Lucknow Super Giants, while Kane Williamson, the former New Zealand captain, serves as the franchise's strategic advisor. Both are currently in England coaching Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred.
How did Mukul Choudhary perform in the most recent IPL season?
Choudhary scored 170 runs in ten games at a strike-rate of 141.66, highlighted by a match-winning 54 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens.
What other changes has LSG made ahead of the next IPL season?
LSG signed left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for ₹13.5 crore and traded former captain Rishabh Pant to the Delhi Capitals, signalling a significant squad overhaul after finishing bottom of the points table.
What is the connection between LSG and Manchester Super Giants?
Both franchises are owned by the RPSG Group, which allows LSG to leverage Manchester Super Giants' infrastructure and coaching staff — including Langer and Williamson — for player development programmes like this camp.
