Lucknow Super Giants surprised many at the IPL mega auction by spending ₹2.2 crore on Akshat Raghuwanshi, a relatively unknown 22-year-old batter from Gwalior. For fans scanning scorecards and domestic records, the obvious question followed: what made LSG invest in a player who hasn’t featured regularly for Madhya Pradesh’s senior team in the last two years?
Akshat Raghuwanshi’s cricketing journey began under the guidance of his father, who played a key role in shaping his fundamentals. While most teenagers were still figuring out their paths, Raghuwanshi was already leading the Madhya Pradesh Under-19 team as captain, a clear indicator of his talent and temperament.
His rise was fast-tracked soon after. Akshat was promoted to the senior Madhya Pradesh side, and in 2022, he announced himself in emphatic fashion. On his Ranji Trophy debut, Raghuwanshi scored a brilliant century, instantly marking himself as one to watch in India’s domestic circuit.
Despite a promising start, Raghuwanshi hasn’t been a regular in Madhya Pradesh’s first XI since 2023. Squad competition, team combinations, and the depth of talent in domestic cricket meant opportunities were limited. As a result, his name slowly faded from mainstream conversations, even though he is still part of the Ranji squad.
The turning point came in during the Madhya Pradesh T20 League this year. Raghuwanshi stunned everyone with his explosive batting, scoring 239 runs in just four innings at a strike rate of 177. The standout performance was a breathtaking 105 off just 45 balls — an innings that instantly caught the attention of IPL scouts.
Following his T20 heroics, Akshat Raghuwanshi was invited for trials by nine IPL franchises. Due to Ranji commitments, he couldn’t attend all of them, but interest remained strong. At the auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants engaged in a bidding war, underlining the demand for his skill set. LSG eventually secured him for ₹2.2 crore.
Raghuwanshi now joins a star-studded LSG squad featuring Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram among others. Game time may be hard to come by, but the IPL is known for sudden opportunities.
Akshat Raghuwanshi may be LSG’s most unexpected buy but if recent history has shown anything, it’s that IPL surprises often become tomorrow’s stars.
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