Lucknow’s IPL team to be called Lucknow Super Giants
The new Lucknow franchise on Monday unveiled its new name ahead of the upcoming edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The franchise owned by the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group will be called Lucknow Super Giants, decided after gathering online public opinion of the fans on Twitter.
Sanjiv Goenka, owner of the Lucknow team, announced this development in a video posted on the official social media handle of the franchise.
“Thank you so much for your overwhelming response to the ‘Naam banao naam kamao’ contest. Lakhs and lakhs of people responded, based on that we are very happy to choose the name for the Lucknow IPL team,” Goenka said in the video while revealing the name of the franchise.
The newly-formed IPL team based in Lucknow was formed in October 2021 after the Indian business conglomerate RP Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG) won the bid for the franchise for a staggering Rs 7090 crores (USD 940 million approx.).
This is not the first time that the RP Sanjiv Goenka has owned an IPL franchise. In 2016, the conglomerate had bought the Pune franchise that played in the tournament for two years, i.e., in 2016 and 2017. It was one of the two franchises formed as temporary two-year replacements for suspended Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
The group had named its franchise as Rising Pune Super Giants, which had the same suffix as the Lucknow team’s name.
Read More: IPL 2022: Lucknow ropes in KL Rahul as captain; Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi picked as well
KL Rahul to lead Lucknow Super Giants
India vice-captain and former Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper, KL Rahul, will be leading the newly-formed Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022. Rahul was roped in by the franchise for a whopping Rs 17 crores ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. He became the joint-highest paid player in IPL across all seasons along with Virat Kohli, when he was bought for the same amount by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2018.
KL Rahul not only led the PBKS franchise for four years but he also finished as the side’s highest run-getter for three consecutive years during his stint with them. Sanjiv Goenka heaped praise on the stylish batter and confirmed that he would lead the Lucknow team in IPL 2022.
“Yes, Rahul will be the captain. I have been very impressed with, not only his batting and wicketkeeping, but also his leadership skills. He is evolving, growing, maturing as a leader. He is somebody I would’ve wanted to lead the team and I do believe that given the right atmosphere and environment, he will emerge as a remarkable leader,” Goenka was quoted as saying.
The franchise also roped in Marcus Stoinis for Rs 9.2 crores and uncapped Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 4 crores.
Lucknow franchise will now enter IPL 2022 mega auction with a purse of Rs 60 crore. With so much cash in purse, it will be interesting to watch how swiftly they build their team for the 2022 event.
The mega-auction is set to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
Read More: IPL 2022 Mega Auction: 896 Indian and 318 International Players to go under the hammer
