As the league stage of the TATA Indian Premier League 2025 comes to a close, franchises are finalizing their line-ups either to maintain their momentum or to ignite a late-season surge. Punjab Kings (PBKS), Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all confirmed major squad changes on May 15, which are important changes that plug holes due to injuries and national call-ups while also providing youthful exuberance going into the final phases of the tournament. Here, we take a closer look at these three headline replacements, what these changes mean for the teams disposing of old bodies for new, and the potential impact these moves will have, as teams jostle for a playoff berth in 2024/24.
1. Punjab Kings: Supporting Really Big Shoes After Ferguson Goes Down
Out: Lockie Ferguson (hamstring)
In: Kyle Jamieson (₹2 Crores)
Lockie Ferguson’s season-ending hammie was not great news for the PBKS bowling department. Ferguson is a ferocious New Zealand quick, calibrated for extreme pace with the ability to produce bounce on even the flattest tracks. Ferguson’s exit leaves PBKS with a notable hole in the pace attack. The franchise has gone for Kyle Jamieson to fill the void, the 6’8″ fasty from New Zealand, whose typical wicket-taking modus operandi involves height, bounce and discipline with line-and-length.
Why Kyle Jamieson?
Aeriel Threat: Jamieson’s additional-length deliveries will trouble batsmen more on slower Indian wickets/maximizing added bounce that leads to false shots.
Death‑Over Help: The 2024–25 southern hemisphere summer provided Jamieson with an opportunity to sharpen his death bowling skillset and employ yorkers and slower cutters under pressure.
Experience Under Spotlight: Jamieson has shone while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2024 and has participated in international deciders for New Zealand. Jamieson appears reliable in high-drama pressure situations.
Impact on PBKS:
Powerplay Management: Jamieson will be paired with Kagiso Rabada to devour the opposition top order and take a drip out of the overall run rate at the top of the innings.
Middle-Over Penetrator: His height will work excellently towards generating extra bounce on subcontinental pitches where spinners may have gotten hold of the game.
Calming Influence: His experience playing Test and limited-overs will act as calming influence for the remainder of the relatively young pace core.
2. Gujarat Titans: Covering Buttler’s International Obligations
OUT: Jos Buttler (National Duty on May 26),
IN: Kusal Mendis (75 Lakh) (since May 26)
Jos Buttler, Gujarat Titans’ leading opener, will depart to join the England National Team right after GT has played their final league match on May 25, 2023. Buttler’s rollicking sorties at the top of the order have propelled GT in the points standings, as his eye-popping sixes and quick singles have allowed GT to have the best possible head start.
Kusal Mendis is arriving.
As a fashionable top-order batter, Kusal Mendis is limited on a small deal but comes in with lots of pedigree:
Shot Variety: Mendis has classic cover drives, snazzy cuts and powerful lofts that suit the BBB (Big Bash Bash), or as people later learned to call it T20.
Versatility: He has done it in the sub continent, and away, having played in the Caribbean Premier League, and having played in the Big Bash in Australia.
Fielding Ability: He is a great slip fielder and in the inner circle, he brings quickness and assurance to the field that many people (including captains) take for granted in the IPL.
Opportunity for GT:
Top Order Profile: If Gujarat Titans don’t want to make Mendis a replacement at the top of the order, he can be used as a left-handed partner, competitively managing left-right combinations against pace and spin.
Spin Management: His comfortable dealing with spin is also a great benefit in the current milieu in Middle Eastern or Asian conditions. Also in the middle overs, as GT tends to by focusing a lot on the spin to just contain any runs.
Potential Bench Knight: As is the case if Buttler stays, Mendis provides a level of healthy competition that could help both players galvanise their play style.
3. Lucknow Super Giants: Fast Bowling Additions
Outgoing: Mayank Yadav (back injury)
Incoming: William O’Rourke (reserve price ₹3 Crore)
Lucknow’s young gun Mayank Yadav had looked impressive early in the season, bowling raw pace and bounce but a back injury cut his season short. In his place, LSG have selected young Kiwi pacer William O’Rourke for the high reserve price of ₹3 Crore—making a statement signing in doing so, indicating their emphasis on pace.
The Rising Star: William O’Rourke
At a mere 20 years old, O’Rourke has introduced himself with:
Express Pace: Touching 145+ km/h in his appearances in New Zealand’s domestic circuit.
Bounce Extraction: O’Rourke can extract bounce like Jamieson; he can generate awkward bounce like Jamieson due to his height and actions even on true decks.
Raw Upside: O’Rourke is a relative unknown in franchise circles, and with that comes a very high ceiling—an intriguing wildcard for LSG’s bowling unit.
LSG’s Rationale:
Pace Depth: O’Rourke can take over more of the overs upfront and allow solid veteran slog-sweeper Naveen‑ul-Haq to settle into a middle-over role.
Intimidation Factor: The pace he brings can unsettle top orders early and pressure the rhythm of LSG’s spells.
Future Asset: At ₹3 Crore he can be a long-term investment; LSG could even look to develop him beyond 2025 as a future mainstay.
BIG-PICTURE IMPLICATIONS
Playoff Push: All three teams are within reach of the top-four. Fresh signings—particularly players who can change a game with the ball—are critical as the games come thick and fast now.
Squad Depth & Balance: Each of these replacements fill a specific gap: PBKS need depth and experience following injury, GT need a re-shuffling of their batters, and LSG are looking at a relentless pace attack.
Momentum Swings: Mid-season signings can reinvigorate locker rooms. A strong debut performance from any of these additions can ignite a winning streak and propel their franchise towards the knockout rounds.
CONCLUSION
As IPL fever hits its boiling point, these three franchises each demonstrated pragmatic roster management, combining established international players (Jamieson), versatile T20 specialists (Mendis), and raw emerging pace (O’Rourke). Although injuries (and national duties) are an unavoidable by-product of a never-ending marathon tournament, the pool of talent—and tactical astuteness—available at this stage can differentiate a mid-table finish from genuine title-hunting run.
Will Kyle Jamieson’s height be the sportsmanship that turns the tide for PBKS? Can Kusal Mendis replace Jos Buttler given the timing of his exit? And will William O’Rourke’s jet-paced spells excite LSG’s championship ambitions?
Whatever is to come will only be revealed over time—and amid the firework festivities of the thousands of IPL games to come amid COVID-19 times—stay close as these replacements make their mark on one of cricket’s most legendary leagues!
