KL Rahul’s time with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is reportedly coming to an end as the team plans to release him prior to the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2025 big auction. His strike rate has long been a source of controversy, and the team is apparently not thrilled with it.
KL Rahul captained the team till the previous season after joining before the 2022 IPL.
Before placing seventh this season, the Super Giants made it to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. The captain was seen being confronted by LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka following LSG’s May 8 loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rumours of a rupture between the two have been circulating ever since. Rahul and Goenka met in August in Kolkata, though, and some fans believed that the two had moved on from their disagreement.
“The team has nearly lost every game in which KL has batted long and scored runs, according to an analysis of his statistics by the LSG management, which includes coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan. That suggests that his rate of strike does not correspond with the game’s momentum. The Impact Player rule is increasing the scores. Someone taking so long at the top of the order is unaffordable,” IPL sources told TOI.
LSG has not, however, ruled out placing a bid for him during the auction. The amount of money the team is willing to spend on the wicketkeeper-batter may be decided by the team on the day of the auction.
Mayank Yadav might be on the retention list before Ravi Bishnoi.
Mayank Yadav, a tearaway speedster, made his debut in the IPL 2024 with some thrilling performances for LSG. The LSG club management believes Mayank is a player for the future, according to IPL sources, thus it shouldn’t be shocking if he is selected for retention before leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
“The find for LSG is Mayank. He has demonstrated the kind of influence he can have on a match, and they invested in him when no one knew about him,” IPL sources stated, adding that LSG is attempting to retain as much of the purse as possible for the budding talent. Both left-arm bowler Mohsin Khan and right-handed batter Ayush Badoni may be kept as uncapped players by the Lucknow-based team.
Teams are awaiting the Delhi Capitals’ release of their retention list in the interim. Rishabh Pant, the team’s captain, may be let go, according to rumours.
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Teams like Punjab Kings and LSG are eager to sign the 27-year-old as their captain. A few more teams are also interested in hiring Pant’s services.
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