New Delhi: KL Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the last three seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. LSG only retained five players – Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni which makes it a bit clear that Rahul seemingly had a fallout with the franchise due to his poor captaincy stints for them.
Rahul, a Team India star, is one of the 12 marquee players who will be up for bidding first during the auction in Jeddah on November 24. The players are divided into two sets of six each and Rahul is placed in the second set. It can be figured out that the teams who are in dire need of a captain can target Rahul at the auction. There are many such teams who have released their skippers and will be on the lookout for a new captain and Rahul is one of the potential contenders for them.
Rahul was drafted in LSG as their captain prior to the 2022 season and was retained as the captain for the 2023 season as well but was ruled out of the tournament mid-way due to an injury. During a group-stage match of the 2024 season, Rahul was publicly criticised by the LSG owner for enduring an embarrassing loss and was eventually released last month by the team.
Nonetheless, here are the possible teams that can bid for KL Rahul at the IPL 2025 mega-auction –
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Despite Shreyas Iyer leading KKR to title triumph in IPL 2024, the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise released the Team India star and rather retained Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. With the departure of Iyer, the team needs a player who can lead them in the cash-rich league and Rahul can be one of those bets.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Rahul, a Karnataka player, would be very much sought by RCB as they released Faf du Plessis who captained them from 2022 to 2024. The team has only retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal, therefore, chances remain that Rahul can make a return in the RCB with whom he debuted in the IPL in 2013. He also represented the team during the 2016 and 2017 seasons (missed).
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Another team that will be looking for a captain is DC which surprisingly released their captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the auction. He captained the team in 2021, 2022, and 2024 and will be looking for a new team, just like Rahul who can be on the cards for the Capitals. DC only retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abishek Porel.
Bleak chances
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Also requiring a wicketkeeper batter is CSK which might see its legend MS Dhoni featuring in his last IPL season next year. Although the team is led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul might be on the radar of CSK but chances for this are very bleak. As per several media reports, CSK will be eyeing Rishabh Pant at the mega auction.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Punjab had bought Rahul ahead of IPl 2018 and retained him for the 2019 season when he was also named as the vice-captain. For the 2020 season, he was handed the role of skipper and was retained as the skipper ahead of the 2021 season. It is understood that he has had his time with the franchise and chances of making a return are very low. PBKS has the biggest purse for the auction as they will be building the team from scratch.
KL Rahul was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction and is one of the marquee players who will go under the hammer in Jeddah on November 24. Which teams can go after him? Here’s a look! Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
