Who is Akshat Raghuwanshi? 5 interesting facts about LSG's ₹2.2 crore signing at IPL 2026 auction

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired six players at the IPL 2026 auction, held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, with Madhya Pradesh batter Akshat Raghuwanshi among their signings. The 22-year-old had entered the auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh but was eventually sold for ₹2.2 crore.

Although Raghuwanshi does not yet have an impressive T20 record, having played seven matches and scored 63 runs at an average of 12.60 and a strike rate of 131.25, he has caught the eye in local competitions in Madhya Pradesh. His ability to score at a higher strike rate has helped him build a reputation as an aggressive young batter.

With the rising Madhya Pradesh batter set to feature for LSG in IPL 2026, here are five interesting facts about Akshat Raghuwanshi.

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#1 Began cricketing journey with dad at just four years old

Akshat Raghuwanshi began playing cricket at the tender age of four, with his father introducing him to the game using whatever plastic or rubber ball was available at home. He later revealed that by the time he was around 10 or 11 years old, he had already made up his mind to pursue a career in cricket. Earlier this year, speaking in an interview with Cricket Dot In, he said:

“I actually started when I was around four or five years old. My father used to feed me balls at home, using whatever plastic or rubber ball was available. He would keep throwing balls at me at home, and I would play all day. But when I was around 10 or 11 years old, I realized that I only wanted to play cricket. Since I had started so early, I had already developed a liking for the game. I enjoyed playing so much that it did not take long for me to make a decision in my life that I want to play cricket.”

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#2 Moved from Ashoknagar to Indore to pursue cricket dreams

In the above-mentioned interaction, Akshat Raghuwanshi also revealed that he hails from Ashoknagar in Madhya Pradesh but moved to Indore to pursue his cricketing ambitions. He said:

“I am from Ashoknagar. Mainly, there was not much cricket in Ashoknagar, so I moved to Indore when I was around 10 years old. I then practiced in Indore. In Indore, we joined CCI. I practiced at CCI for one year, and the next year, there was the MPC Academy, which was a residential academy. I got selected. I stayed at the academy for five years. The main thing is that the academy helped me a lot in my cricketing journey.”

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#3 Scored a century on first-class debut

The right-handed batter made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match against Meghalaya in February 2022, where he announced himself in style by scoring a century in his maiden innings. He struck 100 off 124 balls, including 12 fours and one six, as Madhya Pradesh went on to register an emphatic innings-and-301-run victory.

Since then, Akshat Raghuwanshi has featured in 10 first-class matches, accumulating 421 runs at an average of 32.38, with four half-centuries and one hundred to his name.

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#4 Dominated Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025 with over 250 runs at an average of 50+

Akshat Raghuwanshi represented the Indore Pink Panthers in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025. While the team endured a disappointing campaign and finished at the bottom of the table, Raghuwanshi stood out with his performances with the bat.

In four innings, the 22-year-old amassed 239 runs at an impressive average of 59.75 and a strike rate of 177.04, registering one half-century and a century. His standout knock was a blistering 115 off 56 balls against the Bundelkhand Bulls, an innings that featured six fours and nine sixes.

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#5 Inspired by the former India skipper’s batting style

During an interview with Cricket Dot In, Akshat Raghuwanshi spoke about his cricketing idols, revealing that he grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar, largely influenced by his father’s admiration for the legendary batter. However, as his own game evolved, he began to resonate more with Rohit Sharma’s batting style. He said:

“When I was growing up, I watched a lot of Sachin Tendulkar because my father liked his batting. So, while listening to my father, I also used to watch Sachin Tendulkar. But after playing for some time, I have started liking Rohit Sharma a lot when it comes to batting. My jersey number is even the same, 45. I really like his batting style; Rohit Sharma plays the pull shot really well. So, I really like Rohit Sharma’s batting style.”

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how Akshat Raghuwanshi will make the most of his opportunities if given a chance in IPL 2026.

Edited by Dev Sharma