IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur Steps In for Injured Mohsin Khan, Lucknow Super Giants Face Injury Challenges

Mar, 25 2025

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are gearing up for the upcoming IPL 2025 season with a significant change in their squad. Shardul Thakur has been announced as the replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan, who has been ruled out due to an unfortunate ACL tear in his right knee, exacerbated by a subsequent calf strain. For LSG, grappling with an injury crisis, Thakur's inclusion brings a glimmer of hope as the team navigates several challenges ahead of their season opener against the Delhi Capitals on March 24.

Mohsin Khan sustained his severe knee injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the end of last year. While attempting to make a comeback stronger than ever, he suffered a calf strain further delaying his return to top fitness levels. With recovery time stretching longer than anticipated, LSG had to act swiftly to fill the void left by his absence.

Enter Shardul Thakur. Initially unsold at the IPL auction, Thakur's experience and versatility as an all-rounder pegged him as the ideal candidate to bolster LSG's fast-bowling unit. Training with the team since the preparatory camp began, he is set to travel with the squad to Visakhapatnam for their opening match, assuming leading responsibilities in a pace attack that has been significantly thinned out by injuries.

Troubling Injury Concerns

Indeed, LSG's plight is compounded by injuries to several key fast bowlers. Mayank Yadav is working through lower-back stress issues, having spent substantial time in rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). Despite taking small strides with light bowling, his fitness remains questionable after facing a string of physical setbacks, including side and hamstring strains. Similarly, Avesh Khan's knee problems—attributed to workload-related stress—are being monitored closely, with a possible return on the horizon should he receive timely clearance from the CoE.

Additionally, Akash Deep is also sidelined with a lower-back injury, with his return timeline uncertain. Given this troublesome scenario, LSG is focusing on dynamic management and leveraging the resources at CoE to ease players back into action.

Acknowledging the predicament, LSG’s mentor, Zaheer Khan, touched on the team's proactive stance: “The situation is dynamic for some players. We’re focusing on positives and adapting strategies to tackle the challenges.”

A Season of Adaptation

With Mohsin Khan likely out for most of the season, LSG is preparing for Thakur to lead the bowling front, alongside Shivam Mavi, another player who started unsold and was training with the team. This strategy displays the franchise’s dependency on experienced faces to combat the immediate crisis and keep their campaign on track.

Prioritizing these tactical adjustments allows LSG to turn adversity into opportunity, blending experienced replacements with promising training regimes. Thakur, whose domestic cricket form has been promising, decided to suspend his county cricket plans with Essex to respond to LSG's call. As IPL 2025 kicks off, eyes are undoubtedly on LSG's ability to navigate the season's rocky start, proving resilience in the face of recurring injury setbacks.