The IPL rarely does quiet drama, but Ravi Bishnoi’s release from Lucknow Super Giants felt like exactly that: a twist whispered into the wind, but loud enough to shake the spin market. A 25-year-old leg-spinner with 72 IPL wickets, a T20I strike bowler with 61 international scalps, and yet, he’s back on the auction table because 2025 delivered a brutal reality check: nine wickets in 11 games and an economy ballooning to 10.83.
For a franchise that plays on a helpful surface in Lucknow, LSG’s decision looked less like a breakup and more like a “let’s see other people and maybe get back together cheaper.” But Bishnoi’s availability has opened the door for three franchises that desperately need an Indian spinner who brings experience, mystery, and a point to prove. The question isn’t who will bid, it’s who can actually unlock him?
KKR’s Strategic Void After Markande’s Exit
Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with an absurdly fat purse of ₹64.3 crore but a glaring vacuum in their Indian spin department. Mayank Markande’s exit to the Mumbai Indians didn’t just thin their bench; it left Narine and Chakaravarthy without a rotating partner.
Bishnoi fits the KKR blueprint better than people realise. He bowls attacking lengths similar to Varun’s early years, loves middle-overs contests, and gives KKR the freedom to maintain overseas balance after releasing Moeen Ali. For Bishnoi, learning in the same room as Narine and Varun is like a postgraduate degree in deception. For KKR, it’s a cheap potential match-winner wrapped in domestic availability.
SRH’s Desperate Need for a Middle-Overs Anchor
SunRisers Hyderabad released Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar, and now look dangerously light on spin. Zeeshan Ansari’s 2025 season six wickets, economy 9.84, were promising but raw.
SRH’s biggest weakness last season wasn’t pace, powerplay batting, or death overs. It was the middle overs on their Hyderabad freeway-of-a-pitch where opposition batters took the liberty to play lofted drives as if it were a range-hitting session.
Bishnoi’s fast googlies, skiddy lengths, and wicket-hunting mindset can act as a tactical speed bump. And with ₹25.5 crore in hand, he is well within their shopping budget. More importantly, Bishnoi’s style complements SRH’s aggressive, pace-heavy structure.
RR’s Pursuit of an All-Indian Spin Core
Rajasthan Royals have made bold moves: Hasaranga out, Theekshana out, and Jadeja in via trade. But Jadeja alone can’t be both the container and the striker. RR needs a second spinner who brings variety, ideally an Indian wrist-spinner, to keep the overseas slots free for Curran, Hetmyer, Archer, and their chosen quick.
Enter Bishnoi. The challenge? Sawai Mansingh Stadium isn’t Lucknow; it’s higher scoring, flatter, and far less forgiving to short-length leg-spin. But RR have a history of backing comeback stories, Yashasvi, Riyan, Boult’s late-career bloom, and Bishnoi is the kind of gamble that could pay off in selections for Team India if he cracks this venue.
Leg-spin is a long-term craft, and 2025 was a dip, not a derailment. Expect multiple bids. Expect a tug-of-war. And expect Bishnoi to walk into IPL 2026 with the intensity of someone who knows he’s one good season away from wearing India blues again.
Key Takeaway
Ravi Bishnoi isn’t a risky buy; he’s an undervalued asset waiting for the right franchise to reboot him.
FAQs
- What makes Bishnoi valuable despite a poor 2025 season?
His international record, 185 T20 wickets, and proven ability to attack in the middle overs.
- Why might KKR aggressively target him?
They need an Indian spinner after releasing Markande and Moeen Ali, and have the biggest purse.
- How can SRH benefit from signing Bishnoi?
He can provide crucial control and wickets on their flat home surface, where spinners struggled last season.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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