Indian cricketer KL Rahul finally opened up about his non-retention for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) before the IPL 2025 mega auction. 

In the IPL 2022 mega auction, LSG bought KL Rahul. He was the captain of the team in their first three seasons. Rahul is the only LSG batter to score 1000 runs for the team. The right-handed batter scored 1410 runs in 38 games for the team with an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67, including two centuries and 10 half-centuries. 

Last season, LSG finished in the seventh position, while they reached the playoffs and played Eliminators in their first two seasons.  

Although Rahul’s exit from the LSG team was highly expected, the decision is still hardly understandable.  

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I wanted to explore my options: KL Rahul

Talking about Rahul’s exit from LSG, the former IPL skipper clarified that he wanted a fresh start and to explore other strong and suitable options in the game. 

Rahul told Star Sports, "I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options, and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom. Team atmosphere would be lighter; sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself, and I have been out of the T20 team for a while." 

My aim is obviously to get back into the T20 team: KL Rahul

Rahul last represented the Indian T20I side in November 2022, during the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 against England. He openly admitted that he wanted to return to the T20I side. 

Rahul added, "I know where I stand as a player, and I know what I need to do to get back. I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to go back and enjoy my cricket. My aim is obviously to get back into the T20 team."

KL Rahul won the Orange Cap in the IPL 2021 when he was serving for Punjab Kings. While he was the second-most run-scorer in the IPL 2022, he was in seventh place in the IPL 2024 (Rahul missed almost half of the IPL 2023 due to injury). 

Since IPL 2017, Rahul is the leading run-scorer in IPL. It shows his consistent performances and strong dependable ability with the bat. Without any doubt, he will create an auction war between teams in the upcoming mega auction.