Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant expressed significant relief following the arrival of Indian cricketer Akash Deep to the franchise on Wednesday night. Akash will be eligible for selection in their upcoming match against the Mumbai Indians on Friday, which is set to take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Akash had been sidelined due to a back injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia and has not participated in any matches since December 2024. He has not played a T20 match since the last IPL season, where he appeared in only one game for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. In total, he played just eight matches for the franchise since 2022, taking seven wickets, before being released prior to the last auction. Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for INR 8 crores.

After completing rehabilitation for his back injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, Akash rejoined the LSG squad on Wednesday.

His return is a significant advantage for Lucknow, who have been struggling with injuries. Previously, fast bowler Mohsin Khan was ruled out for the entire IPL 2025 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) sustained last December, leading to Shardul Thakur being signed as his replacement. Additionally, Mayank Yadav, who gained recognition last season for his speed and wicket-taking skills, is expected to be available only towards the end of the season.

So far, LSG has secured only one victory out of their three matches this season. They will enter the game against Mumbai following a loss to the Punjab Kings in their first home match of the season on Tuesday.

Akash's return is also a significant boost for the Indian national team, which faces a lengthy tour of England in the near future, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah, who is still recuperating from a back injury sustained during the Test series in Australia. Following IPL 2025, India will embark on a five-Test series in England scheduled for June and July.

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