IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur set to replace Mohsin Khan at Lucknow Super Giants; Mayank Yadav remains 50-50 | Cricket News

Shardul Thakur (Photo Source: X)

After going unsold at the mega auction, all-rounder Shardul Thakur is all set to sign an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Thakur has been with the side since their preparations for the 2025 season got underway and will be replacing injured Mohsin Khan in the Rishabh Pant-led squad.
The official announcement is yet to be made but it’s learnt that Thakur has been informed about the decision and will be travelling with the side to Visakhapatnam for their season opener vs Delhi Capitals.
Mohsin picked up an ACL injury which has impaired him from featuring in any cricket for the last three months, and then had a calf strain when he resumed bowling in the LSG nets. With their core group of seamers still recovering at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE), the management was forced to take the call on an injury replacement.

The India-heavy pace attack features Akash Deep, Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav but all are yet to join the IPL franchise. While Akash Deep and Mayank are at the CoE, Avesh still hasn’t linked up with the squad after recovering from the knee injury. As far as pace sensation Mayank is concerned, he has started bowling at reduced intensity in the nets but is far from attaining match fitness.
From side strain to hamstring to issue in the left side of the back and now the right side, the youngster’s body has gone through a lot and he is yet to play a competitive fixture since October last year. Even if the 22-year-old gets an all-clear from the CoE to join his IPL side, it will be nothing short of a miracle if he lasts the distance.
The LSG camp is yet to give details of their seamers’ injuries and mentor Zaheer Khan insisted that they will follow a dynamic approach this season.
“The situation is dynamic for some of our players due to injuries. But it’s time that we look for positives and adopt things to tackle the situation amicably. Some players are at the National Cricket Academy and others are spending time with their physios. Right now, it will not be right to say anything about this. The situation will be dynamic this season,” Zaheer said in a media interaction.
In absence of their core seamers, Shardul will now be leading the pack as he is the most experienced bowler in the set-up. Shamar Joseph is the only overseas seamer in the LSG squad which also features youngsters like Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Prince Yadav. While the spin department wears a settled look, the same can’t be said about the quicks.