LSG's batting revamp gathers pace with Jayakumar set to join as coach

Lucknow Super Giants are setting the pace in the IPL off-season. After completing a surprise trade involving Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav – officially confirmed by the BCCI on Tuesday – the franchise is now searching for a power-hitter and developing talent from within.

Former Kerala cricketer G Jayakumar is being roped in as batting coach, part of larger plans to strengthen the team's batting depth. He is expected to join the franchise soon and work closely with domestic players, becoming part of a coaching group led by Tom Moody (director of cricket), Justin Langer (head coach) and Bharat Arun (bowling coach). With Jayakumar's appointment, Lance Klusener appears unlikely to remain in the setup.

LSG is planning to send a group of Indian batters – including Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni and Arshin Kulkarni – to Perth to train under Justin Langer next week. The players will then travel to Chennai to work with Jayakumar.

Jayakumar enjoys a strong reputation as a batting coach in Chennai, despite being a former Kerala pacer who played 25 matches. He is credited with contributing to the development of Sai Sudharsan.

Meanwhile, the Pant-Kuldeep trade was finalized over two weeks ago, with LSG's Shashwat Goenka and JSW's Parth Jindal working out details. For Pant, it represents a homecoming after the weight of his record INR 27 crore salary.

LSG now have approximately INR 23 crore in their purse, including surplus from the trade, the annual INR 5 crore salary cap increase, and last year's balance. With expected releases, the franchise will head into next year's auction with a fat purse.