The Lucknow Super Giants have begun early preparations for the IPL 2026 season by sending a group of domestic fast bowlers to South Africa for a focused training stint during the upcoming SA20.

The 2025–26 edition of the SA20 is scheduled to begin on December 26 and conclude on January 25, offering LSG a valuable opportunity to prepare their pace unit in overseas conditions. As per reports, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, and young left-arm pacer Naman Tiwari are set to travel to Durban next week. One or two additional players may also join the group.

The bowlers will train with Durban Super Giants, LSG’s sister franchise, allowing seamless coordination between the two setups. Permission for the training stint has already been granted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, as none of the players are currently involved in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

South Africa stint key to recovery and long-term pace planning

For Avesh and Mohsin, the South Africa trip is especially significant. Both pacers are recovering from knee surgeries they underwent in July and have been out of competitive cricket for several months. Avesh last played for LSG earlier this year, while Mohsin’s most recent appearance came in December 2024. The SA20 environment will help them gradually regain match rhythm and fitness ahead of IPL 2026.

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Naman Tiwari, meanwhile, is seen as a long-term prospect. The 20-year-old left-armer, who can consistently clock speeds above 140 kmph, was bought by LSG for ₹1 crore at the IPL 2026 auction despite interest from Rajasthan Royals. Though yet to make his domestic debut, the stint in South Africa is expected to accelerate his development.

The pacers will work under the supervision of Lance Klusener, Tom Moody, Bharat Arun, and Carl Crowe, all part of the LSG support structure. With fitness, form, and depth in focus, this overseas training block marks an important step in LSG’s build-up to IPL 2026.

LSG full squad for IPL 2026

Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper), Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Josh Inglis, Matthew Breetzke, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Ayush Badoni, Arshin Kulkarni, Shahbaz Ahamad, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, M Siddharth, Mukul Choudhary, Naman Tiwari, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mohammad Shami (traded in), Arjun Tendulkar (traded in).

In the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions, we have seen some surprise uncapped names for whom the franchises set thrilling bidding wars that stretched to shocking values for the unknown players. Here, we will know the uncapped players who have stunned with their rich values in the history of IPL auctions.

Most expensive uncapped players in the history of IPL 

Prashant Veer (Chennai Super Kings, 2026)- INR 14.2 Cr

In the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Chennai Super Kings won the bid for the 20-year-old Uttar Pradesh cricketer Prashant Veer for INR 14.20 crore, which is the joint highest successful bid for an uncapped player in IPL auction history. All-rounder Prashant is a left-handed batter and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. 

Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings, 2026) - INR 14.2 Cr 

Chennai Super Kings also bought the 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for INR 14.20 crore, as he also became the most expensive uncapped player in the history of IPL auctions. He has been serving for Rajasthan since November 2024.  

See Also: Most expensive players in history of IPL ft Cameron Green

Avesh Khan (Lucknow Super Giants, 2022) - INR 10 Cr

In the IPL 2022 mini-auction, Avesh Khan created history by becoming the most expensive uncapped player in IPL auction history at that time, when Lucknow Super Giants bought the right-arm fast bowler for INR 10 crore. 

Krishnappa Gowtham (Chennai Super Kings, 2021) - INR 9.25 Cr

Before Avesh Khan, Krishnappa Gowtham was the record-holder in the list of the most expensive uncapped player in the IPL auction history, as the bowling all-rounder was signed by Chennai Super Kings for INR 9.225 crore in the IPL 2021 auction. 

Shahrukh Khan (Punjab Kings, 2022) - INR 9 Cr 

During the IPL 2022 auction, Punjab Kings won the bid war for the hard-hitting batter Shahrukh Khan for INR 9 crore. 

Rahul Tewatia (Gujarat Titans, 2022) - INR 9 Cr

During the IPL 2022 auction, uncapped Rahul Tewatia also got a bid for INR 9 crore from Gujarat Titans. 

Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain and India batter, will not be taking part in the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The BCCI medical team at the Centre of Excellence has recommended rest for him as he recovers from a hand injury.

Patidar was under consideration for India’s tour of England but missed the opportunity due to this injury, which occurred during RCB’s title-winning run in IPL 2025. His performance in the tournament was pivotal to their campaign, but the injury came at a crucial time.

Though Patidar has already made his Test debut for India, he has struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the squad. Repeated injury setbacks have hindered his progress on the international stage, making it difficult for him to cement his place on the national side.

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Rajat Patidar out of Duleep Trophy:

Rajat Patidar is steadily making a case for a spot in India’s T20I squad, especially after showcasing his batting talent in the recent IPL season. However, his current priority is to fully recover from injury. Once fit, he is expected to return to domestic action, aiming to perform strongly in the upcoming Ranji Trophy campaign.

As per Times of India, a source said, “ Rajat is training at MP’s off-season camp, but he’s not been batting, as he has been advised to take a break and recover from the injury in his right hand by the BCCI’s medical team. He will miss the Duleep Trophy but should be fine for the Ranji Trophy.”

LSG Pacers Also Recovering from Injury:

In addition to Patidar, Lucknow Super Giants’ pacers Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Mohsin Khan are currently recovering from surgeries done in June after IPL 2025 ended. The trio is likely to be sidelined for about six months as they focus on their rehabilitation and aim to return fully fit for future competitions.

Mayank Yadav featured in just two games for Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2025 before a back injury forced him out of the tournament. He has since undergone a successful surgery. On the international front, Mayank has represented India in three T20Is, all coming against Bangladesh in 2024, marking the early stages of his national team journey. A source said, “ He’s out for six to eight months.”

Meanwhile, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan both had knee surgeries. Avesh underwent a procedure on his right knee after facing issues during the 2024/25 domestic season, which also kept him out of Madhya Pradesh’s final Ranji Trophy league game and early IPL 2025 matches. Mohsin had ACL reconstruction on his right knee after suffering the injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

The three pacers are set to miss the opening phase of the 2025-26 domestic season and are expected to make their comeback in the latter half of the Ranji Trophy next year. They will continue their recovery and rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Avesh Khan did something no one was expecting— a game-changing final over. LSG defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by only 2 runs. Without Avesh Khan and his pinpoint yorkers, Super Giants probably couldn't make their way to the touchline.

After the match, Avesh Khan's mother couldn't control her tears, tears of joy. An emotional moment after a fierce battle at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, when mother and son hugged each other. Every mother on the planet dreams that one day her child will do something big, something she can be proud of. Avesh did that. The night will forever be scripted on their memory for life, her tears said without uttering any word.

Lucknow Super Giants, from their official social media account, shared a video capturing the warm son and mom moment. Avesh and his teammates asked her not to cry: "Don't cry, don't cry, smile only." But it was a mother's heart; after witnessing her son's match-winning performance on the field and becoming the hero, an outburst of emotions was natural. Avesh Khan's mother was waiting inside the lounge, came out with tears, and hugged Avesh as soon as he arrived. 

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Watch the video here:

Who is cutting onions? 🥹 pic.twitter.com/uBTbd72j8l

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 20, 2025

Avesh took 3 in his 4 overs spell 

Rajasthan Royals was chasing LSG's 180; the match was within the grip of RR batters until Avesh stood tall with his yorkers. He took the wicket of dangerous-looking Shimron Hetmyer and offered only 6 runs in the 20th over. RR batters tried their best to take their team to the victory line, but Avesh's yorkers were too good to defend the total. 

Over-all, in his 4 overs spell, the Indian pacer took 3 scalps with 9.25 economy rate. He took the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer gradually.

Avesh Khan Declared Fit, Likely to Play Against SRH

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) finally have some good news after their disappointing loss to Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 opener. Fast bowler Avesh Khan has been cleared to play by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, as per reports from ESPNcricinfo.

Avesh had been struggling with pain in his right knee since playing against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy. He spent nearly two months recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and was officially cleared on March 24. Earlier, there were concerns that he might miss three matches, but now he is expected to be available for LSG’s next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Justin Langer Gives Updates on Mayank and Akash Deep

LSG head coach Justin Langer also shared injury updates on Mayank and Akash Deep. Mayank, who was recovering well from a back injury, had an unfortunate mishap he hit his toe on a bed, which led to an infection. This has delayed his return by a week or two, but Langer is hopeful he will play later in the season.

 "Mayank was doing well, and then he accidentally kicked his toe on the bed. He got an infection, which set him back a little, but he's on the right track now. We've been getting videos of him bowling, and I saw one yesterday. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the later stages of the tournament," Langer said.

 On the other hand, Akash Deep is almost fully fit. "Akash is doing well he's bowling at about 90% now and has completed his fitness test. He’s checking all the right boxes," Langer added.

ALSO READ: Twitter reactions after PBKS win of IPL 2025

Shardul Thakur Impresses on LSG Debut

With Mohsin Khan unavailable, Shardul Thakur stepped up in LSG’s last match. He made an immediate impact with the new ball, dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel. However, captain Rishabh Pant didn’t bring him back later in the innings, limiting his impact. LSG will be hoping for a stronger performance in their upcoming game, especially with Avesh Khan likely to return.

Indian fast bowler Avesh Khan found himself in a playful interaction with the lively crowd at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India B in Bengaluru. The star-studded clash drew a large audience on day three, especially since it was a Saturday, which brought a noticeable increase in attendance. The Chinnaswamy crowd, being loyal Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans, quickly began to fill the stadium with their signature RCB chants.

Avesh Khan joins the RCB chant fun

With the atmosphere electric and the chants of "RCB-RCB" echoing around the ground, Avesh Khan, who was fielding near the boundary, was a good sport. Instead of ignoring the crowd, he playfully encouraged the fans to get even louder. In a video that quickly went viral, Avesh can be seen gesturing to the crowd, urging them to ramp up their cheers even more, showing his chilled-out demeanor in the face of the teasing chants. His lighthearted response only fueled the fans further, creating a fun and engaging moment during the match.

RCB fans teasing Avesh Khan for his Helmet Celebration

They are shouting continuously RCB RCB and boo 😭😭😭#CricketTwitter #rcb pic.twitter.com/j1WoajBcDh

— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) September 7, 2024

India A faces tough competition from India B

On the cricketing front, Avesh Khan had a solid performance for India A. In the first innings, he managed to pick up two crucial wickets while conceding 59 runs, as India B put up a total of 321 runs. On day three, India A could only muster 231 runs, falling short and conceding a 90-run lead to India B. India B capitalized on this lead, with Rishabh Pant contributing a quickfire 61 off 47 balls, while Sarfaraz Khan added a valuable 46 off 36 balls. Avesh picked up another wicket in the third innings, dismissing Sarfaraz and trying to keep his side in the game.

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Avesh Khan’s last appearance for India came in a match against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 10, 2024. With his recent performances, Avesh could be in line for a recall to India’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. With reports suggesting that Jasprit Bumrah might be rested for the series, the selectors are keen on introducing fresh faces into the pace attack. Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh are strong contenders to be included in the squad, adding variety and depth to India’s fast bowling options.

Ravi Bishnoi, the star Indian spinner, showed off his fielding skills in India’s third T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. He took a fantastic catch to dismiss Brian Bennett.

This happened in the fourth over of Zimbabwe’s innings when they were trying to recover after losing Wessly Madhevere and Tadiwanashe Marumani early. Shubman Gill’s decision to give Avesh Khan another over was brilliant, as Avesh managed to get Bennet’s crucial wicket.

Ravi Bishnoi’s blinder to dismiss Brian Bennet

Avesh bowled a short of good length delivery, which Bennet cut hard through the off side. But he couldn’t get pass Ravi Bishnoi, who timed his jump perfectly and took an amazing catch.

Bishnoi’s catch ended Bennet’s innings, leaving him with just four runs from five balls. After Bennet’s dismissal, captain Sikandar Raza joined Dion Myers to stabilize Zimbabwe’s innings.

Earlier, with Shubman Gill’s half-century and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s useful knock, India set a challenging total of 182 runs. Zimbabwe was 36 for three in 5.3 overs.

India beat Zimbabwe by 23 runs in the third T20I on Wednesday, July 10, at Harare Sports Club. India chose to bat first and scored 182/4 in 20 overs, with a fantastic 66 off 49 balls from captain Shubman Gill. In response, Zimbabwe managed only 159/6 in their 20 overs.

Zimbabwe had a tough start. Avesh Khan 2-39 dismissed Wessly Madhevere in the second over, and Khaleel Ahmed got Tadiwanashe Marumani out for 13. Brian Bennett was caught by Ravi Bishnoi, and captain Sikandar Raza 15 off 16 was out to Washington Sundar 3-15.

Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed dominate early overs

Zimbabwe was struggling at 39/5 after seven overs. Dion Myers and Clibe Madande 37 off 26 put up a 77-run partnership to keep Zimbabwe in the game.

Madande was caught by Rinku Singh off Sundar in the 17th over, leaving Zimbabwe at 116/6. Myers kept fighting and scored his first T20I fifty 65* off 49, but it wasn’t enough to win the match.

India’s bowling unit seals the victory

Earlier, India started well with a 67-run opening stand between Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal 36 off 27. Sikandar Raza 2-24 got Jaiswal and Abhishek Sharma out in quick succession, but Ruturaj Gaikwad (49 off 28) and Gill added 72 runs for the third wicket.

Late contributions from Sanju Samson 12* off 7 and Gaikwad helped India reach 182/4. Blessing Muzarabani 2-25 also took two wickets for Zimbabwe. With this win, India leads the series 2-1 and will look to secure the series win in the fourth game on Saturday, July 13, at the same venue.

India bounced back strongly in the series with a resounding 100-run victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad led the charge as India leveled the series on Sunday, July 7th.

In a thrilling comeback, the young Indian team dominated Zimbabwe in the second T20I. Abhishek Sharma played a stellar innings, smashing a sensational century to propel India to a massive total of 234 runs. Zimbabwe struggled right from the start, managing to score only 134 runs in response, thanks to outstanding bowling performances by Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mukesh Kumar.

Zimbabwe’s early charge and subsequent collapse

Zimbabwe began their chase aggressively, with Brian Bennett hitting boundaries early on. However, his departure after a quickfire 26 marked the start of Zimbabwe’s downfall. They lost wickets consistently, finding themselves at 76/7 by the 12th over. Luke Jongwe and Wessley Madhvere tried to revive the innings, but Zimbabwe eventually succumbed, getting all out in the 18.4 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan stood out with their superb bowling. Bishnoi conceded just 11 runs in his spell and took crucial wickets, while Avesh Khan troubled the batsmen with his pace and aggression.

Abhishek Sharma’s explosive century

The match belonged to Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who played pivotal roles with their contrasting yet effective batting styles. Abhishek Sharma, after a slow start unleashed his aggression to score a maiden T20I century. He hit 8 sixes and 7 boundaries in his explosive innings, dominating the Zimbabwean bowlers.

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased his class with an unbeaten 77 off 47 balls, paying homage to MS Dhoni on his birthday. The duo’s partnership of 137 runs set India on course for their highest-ever T20I total against Zimbabwe.

Rinku Singh also made a significant contribution, smashing 48* off just 22 balls towards the end of the innings, further bolstering India’s formidable total.

With this win India has tied the series 1-1 there are still three matches to go.

The IPL 2024 season has been nothing short of spectacular, and with just two games remaining, the excitement is at an all-time high. In Qualifier 2, Rajasthan Royals faced off against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a crucial match at Chepauk, Chennai. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to leverage the dew factor that often comes into play in the second innings.

First Over Drama

The match started with a bang as Trent Boult, known for his prowess with the new ball, struck early. Abhishek Sharma, SRH’s opener, was dismissed in the first over itself, sending a jolt through the SRH camp. Boult’s ability to swing the ball both ways made it challenging for the batters to settle.

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Powerplay Performance

Despite the early loss, Rahul Tripathi came in with a positive intent. He played some scintillating shots and handled the pressure well. Tripathi’s aggressive approach paid off, as he scored a quick-fire 37 off just 14 deliveries, giving SRH a much-needed boost. However, Boult struck again, removing Tripathi and later Aiden Markram, putting SRH in a precarious position.

Middle Overs Drama

Heinrich Klaasen joined Travis Head at the crease, and together, they aimed to stabilize the innings. Their partnership was crucial as they kept the scoreboard ticking and built a platform for a competitive total. The first strategic timeout saw SRH at 81/3 after 7 overs, a position from which they could build.

Just as SRH seemed to be recovering, Sandeep Sharma delivered a crucial blow by dismissing Travis Head. This wicket triggered a middle-order collapse, with Avesh Khan making significant inroads. Nitish Reddy and Abdul Samad fell cheaply, leaving SRH struggling to maintain momentum.

Late Innings Fightback

Amidst the tumbling wickets, Heinrich Klaasen stood tall. His resilience was pivotal in pushing SRH towards a respectable total. Shahbaz Ahmed provided vital support, and their partnership ensured that SRH did not completely capitulate. Klaasen’s fifty was instrumental in SRH reaching a total of 175/9.

RR’s Bowling Highlights

Trent Boult was the star with the ball, claiming key wickets and maintaining pressure throughout his spell. Avesh Khan’s impact in the middle overs was equally significant, while Sandeep Sharma’s timely breakthroughs kept SRH from getting away. Apart from Boult (3/45) and Avesh Khan (3/27), Sandeep Sharma (2/25) also claimed two wickets.