Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch has suggested that Lucknow Super Giants should not retain fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan for the IPL 2026 season. The franchises have until November 15 to finalize their retention lists. Finch raised concerns about the injury history of both pacers, questioning their availability and fitness for crucial matches. Instead, he recommended LSG focus on retaining impact players like David Miller, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Akash Deep, alongside considering Rishabh Pant despite his high price tag. Mayank was previously retained for INR 11 crore before IPL 2025 but managed only two matches due to a back injury. Avesh, acquired from Rajasthan Royals at the mega auction, took 13 wickets in as many games but carried an economy rate of 10.28. Finch emphasized choosing consistent match-winners over injury-prone players during retention decisions.
Finch's Retention Strategy for Lucknow Super Giants
Speaking in an interaction with Star Sports, Finch outlined his retention preferences for LSG. He advised holding on to David Miller for his match-winning abilities and power-hitting skills in death overs. Mitchell Marsh earned his approval due to his destructiveness at the top order in T20 cricket. Nicholas Pooran was described as a very dangerous player worth retaining. Finch included Akash Deep as the lone specialist bowler, acknowledging his inconsistency but praising his quality at peak performance. He expressed reservations about Rishabh Pant due to the substantial financial commitment required for a single player, though recognized his value to the franchise overall.
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