Akshat Raghuwanshi, the 22-year-old right-handed batter from Madhya Pradesh, fetched a stunning ₹2.20 crore bid from Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2026 auction, marking his explosive entry into the league. LSG has invested in him as a middle-order explosive batter who can perform as a finisher like Ayush Badoni.
Akshat Raghuwanshi’s Early Life
He was born on September 14, 2003, in Gwalior. Akshat started playing cricket at a young age under his father’s guidance and trained at local academies to sharpen his skills. His steady progress helped him rise quickly through Madhya Pradesh’s age-group teams. He later captained the Under-19 side in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, showing strong leadership and consistency.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 2003 (22 years) |
| Nickname | Raghuwanshi |
| Role | Batsman |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style | Off Break |
At just 17 years old, Akshat caught the attention of coach Chandrakant Pandit during a U-19 practice match, where he scored an impressive 165 runs. Pandit noticed his confidence, courage, and maturity and recommended him to the selectors.
Akshat Raghuwanshi Career Stats
He began his professional journey by making his first-class debut in the 2021–22 Ranji Trophy on 24 February 2022. Born in Gwalior, he began playing cricket at a very young age and developed his skills under his father’s guidance. After that, he stepped into the T20 format, making his debut in the 2022–23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on 11 October 2022.
Later in the same season, he also made his List A debut in the 2022–23 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 12 November 2022. Step by step, Akshat has progressed across all formats, showing steady growth and promise in India’s domestic cricket circuit.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC | 10 | 13 | 421 | 32.38 | 56.13 | 1 | 4 |
| List A | 12 | 10 | 192 | 27.42 | 114.28 | 0 | 1 |
| T20s | 7 | 7 | 63 | 12.6 | 131.25 | 0 | 0 |
| MP T20 League | 4 | 4 | 239 | 59.75 | 177.04 | 1 | 1 |
In 10 first-class matches, he has scored 421 runs in 13 innings at an average of 32.38 and a strike rate of 56.13. His performances include four half-centuries and one century, demonstrating his ability to play long, meaningful innings. During this period, he also hit 44 fours and 8 sixes, highlighting a good balance between solid defense and attacking stroke play.
LSG Bought Him For INR 2.2 Crore For IPL 2026
At the IPL 2026 mini-auction, SRH started bidding at ₹30 lakh, and quickly, LSG also showed interest. They both fought, but LSG brought him for a massive ₹2.20 crore. The huge price jump shows the franchise’s strong belief in his T20 ability and future potential. This big investment also strengthens their middle order as a potential replacement for David Miller.
Scouts see him as a potential breakout player similar to Priyansh Arya, as he combines strong technique with aggressive white-ball batting. His talent has also earned praise from well-known figures like Venkatesh Iyer and Chandrakant Pandit.
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