Sanjiv Goenka reveals why LSG let their “simplest bowler after Mayank Yadav” go earlier than IPL 2025

Marcus Stoinis might be the best player Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has had. In their three-year run, he might be the most effective player they had. Of all the batters who scored over 500 runs for LSG, only Nicholas Pooran had a better strike rate. But Stoinis was more than a middle-over hitter. Once to back the Australian all-rounder, you get useless bowling and incredible fielding.

Stoinis, the ultimate utility player

A three-dimensional player, a complete package, some might call him. But when the time came, neither was Stoinis retained nor did LSG bid for him at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. Stoinis’ bowling often gets criticised, but whenever the team needed him he was there. He stood his hand up when others didn’t and that can’t be reflected in numbers.

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Why Stoinis wasn’t RTMed by LSG

The owner of LSG, owner Sanjiv Goenka acknowledged what Stoinis did for them and was willing to give him Rs 11 crore and retain him. They have already paid Rs 11 crore each to Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav and spent Rs 18 crore on Nicholas Pooran as well. 

“Stoinis was definitely in our plans. We would have used the RTM for him had he been within 10 to 10.25 crores, but he went beyond. Yes, we would have definitely wanted Stoinis with us. We are disappointed that he is not (with us), but this is the dynamic of any auction; now what to do?” Goenka told Aakash Chopra.

“You cannot let your personal likes dictate what is best for the franchise. What is good for the franchise is good for the franchise. Stoinis is very good. He was our second-highest run-getter last season. He was not given that much bowling, but he was probably the most effective bowler after Mayank (Yadav),” the LSG owner added.

Marcus Stoinis’ record for LSG