Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) team to his official residence on Monday evening, extending his best wishes for their IPL 2025 campaign in a courtesy visit that underscored the state’s growing sports ethos. The meeting saw team owner Sanjiv Goenka, captain Rishabh Pant, and the full squad in attendance, joined by coaching staff and management, according to an official statement.

Adityanath lauded LSG’s past performances, stating, “Lucknow Super Giants have showcased remarkable performances in previous seasons. This team represents dedication, discipline, and the true spirit of the game.” He expressed confidence in their potential to clinch the IPL trophy, adding, “I am hopeful that this season, too, the players will demonstrate their skills and make the state proud.” The CM highlighted UP’s strides in sports infrastructure, noting, “The government has taken significant steps to foster a thriving sports culture, enabling young athletes to excel nationally and internationally.”

Encouraging the team to embody perseverance and inspire youth, Adityanath framed LSG as a beacon for UP’s sporting ambitions. The players reciprocated, thanking the government for initiatives that have propelled athletes from the state onto global stages. LSG’s roster—including Pant, David Miller, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran—alongside mentors like Zaheer Khan and coach Justin Langer, reflected the team’s star power as they gear up to face Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam.

The visit, attended by COO Vinay Chopra and manager Soumyadeep Pyne, follows LSG’s playoff runs in 2022 and 2023, though they slipped to seventh in 2024. With Pant—acquired for a record Rs 27 crore—now at the helm, Adityanath’s pep talk aims to galvanize the squad for a championship bid, aligning with UP’s broader push to elevate its sports profile ahead of the IPL’s March 22 kickoff.