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.  

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma to miss first Test against Australia in Perth

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.

As all 10 franchises gear up to lock horns in the upcoming mega auction in Riyadh later this month, most of their quest will be centered around looking for a new captain. The Indian wicketkeepers featuring the likes of Rishab Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer will also be in contention in this year’s mega auction race. 

As many as four IPL franchises have released their respective captains ahead of the grand Riyadh auction. Faf has been released by RCB, KL Rahul released by LSG, Pant released by DC, and Iyer released by the defending champions KKR to name a few. With sweeping changes expected across the horizon, we highlight some common problems the franchises are expected to encounter in this forthcoming auction. 

Common headaches for all franchises ahead of the IPL auction

As we have now learnt, teams have expressed their desire to let go of their captains. The exit of the past skippers will undoubtedly leave a power vacuum. KKR, RCB, LSG, and DC will be without their former captains who performed remarkably well for them over the years. The gap can also result in decreased performance and impact on the field as well as off-the-field relationships between the players and the coaching staff. In other words, with new talent onboard, success may not always be guaranteed as the players and the management need to starch from scratch while forging new relations. 

Besides, the departure of other veteran players like Pant or Iyer can leave the team vulnerable on the biggest of stages. Iyer, who was the winning captain of KRR last year comes with a lot of experience and the franchise could have certainly benefitted from him once again in the next season. However, the arrival of a fresh captain can potentially change the dynamics and the composure of the KKR team for the worse. 

While some teams are on the lookout for fresh talent to lead their side, others are also gearing up to find match-winners in the form of wicket-keepers such as Rishab Pant and KL Rahul.  The franchises will have a lot of tough decisions to make as we fast approach the mega auction so don't be surprised if they make any move out of the ordinary.  

Just like Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) also made their IPL debut in the 2022 edition. LSG have announced the retained players for the IPL 2025. 

Although they haven’t played any final yet, LSG still have impressed in their early IPL journey. In their first two IPL seasons, LSG reached the Eliminators. Last season, LSG finished in the seventh position with the same points as the fourth place but a lesser net run rate. 

KL Rahul has been leading the team since their IPL debut. In his absence, Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran have led the team. 

Lucknow Super Giants’ player retention

Lucknow Super Giants retained five players, including three capped and two uncapped players, for INR 51 crore. At the IPL 2025 mega auction, LSG can spend the remaining INR 69 crore. 

(Capped)

Nicholas Pooran (Trinidadian): INR 21 Crore

Ravi Bishnoi (Indian): INR 11 Crore

Mayank Yadav (Indian): INR 11 Crore

(Uncapped)

Mohsin Khan (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Ayush Badoni (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

1 capped player

West Indies cricketer Nicholas Pooran has reportedly signed a new contract for the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Recently, the 29-year-old Caribbean cricketer Nicholas Pooran was in Kolkata to meet with the RPSG officials. While Cricbuzz confirmed this report, the cricket news website also claimed that the Caribbean cricketer could be the first official sign for the IPL 2025. 

The retention deadline is October 31. On that day, we can learn the retained players of each IPL team before the mega auction. 

LSG are unlikely to retain KL Rahul

The LSG team management is unlikely to retain the captain KL Rahul, who is the only batter to record 1000+ runs for the team. LSG played the Eliminators in their first two IPL seasons but finished in the seventh position in the IPL 2024. 

Although the LSG owner has claimed that Rahul is a family member, the unhappiness with the captain was publicly seen in the last season.

Nicholas Pooran's performances

Pooran is the fourth-most run-scorer for LSG, as he has scored 857 runs in 29 games with an average of 42.85 and a strike rate of 175.97. The left-handed Caribbean batter has hit five half-centuries. In the last IPL season, Pooran scored 499 runs with an average of 62.37 and a strike rate of 178.21, including three half-centuries. 

As Pooran is going to be the first sign for the LSG, his retention value can be INR 18 crore. However, the franchise can deal with him for lesser or higher salaries. 

An LSG official said, according to Cricbuzz, "Pooran is committed to LSG, possesses a winning mindset, thinks deep and above all he is adaptable to the batting order and any match situation.”

If LSG don’t retain KL Rahul, Pooran can be their next captain for the IPL 2025. 

According to the Cricbuzz report, capped players Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav and the uncapped players Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan can be the other retained names for the LSG. 

Former India batter and current National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman is likely to join Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as the new head coach ahead of IPL 2025. According to a report by Times Of India (TOI), Laxman is expected to step down from his NCA role once his contract expires in September this year.

Transition from NCA to IPL

VVS Laxman, who was one of the top candidates to succeed Rahul Dravid as the head coach of Team India, expressed his reluctance to be constantly on the road with the team. Appointed as the NCA Head Coach in November 2021, Laxman had to relocate from Hyderabad to Bengaluru for the role. However, with his contract nearing its end and his unwillingness to continue, Lucknow Super Giants have shown interest in bringing him on board as part of their coaching staff for the 2025 IPL season.

Future prospects and team changes

Despite Lucknow Super Giants’ failure to qualify for the playoffs, with a seventh-place finish in the league stage, Justin Langer is expected to continue as the head coach. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that skipper KL Rahul might leave LSG and return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he made his IPL debut in 2013.

See Also: Ajit Agarkar influences Hardik Pandya’s shocking exit as T20 captain? Report – Cricket Winner

As for the NCA, former India batting coach Vikram Rathour is likely to succeed Laxman. Rathour, who has a long association with the BCCI, served as a national selector and later as the Indian team’s batting coach from 2019 to June 2024. Meanwhile, Laxman, having shifted back to Hyderabad, has reportedly been approached by multiple IPL franchises for coaching roles. Despite being the BCCI’s first preference to replace Dravid, Laxman declined the offer due to his reluctance to travel extensively with the team.

Delhi Capitals registered a convincing win by 19 runs over Lucknow Super Giants at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi in the 64th match of the ongoing IPL 2024. Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs smashed quick knocks and Ishant Sharma claimed three wickets and helped the team win.

DC players did well with the bat

Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bowl first. Batting first, DC lost their in-form opener Jake Fraser-McGurk for a duck. However, Abishek Porel and Shai Hope maintained their good form and added 92 runs within 8.3 overs. Porel scored 58 off 33 with 5 fours and 4 sixes whereas Hope smashed 38 off 27 with 3 fours and two sixes as well.

However, after their dismissals, middle-order batters Rishabh Pant and Tristan Stubbs stepped up. While Pant scored a quickfire 33 off 23 with 5 fours, Tristan Stubbs’ unbeaten fifty and Axar Patel’s quick 14 helped them to post 208 runs in their allotted 20 overs with the loss of 4 wickets.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

Nicholas Pooran scored a quick fifty

While chasing, Lucknow Super Giants had a poor start as their opener KL Rahul got out for a mere 5. Soon, they lost their upper order within the powerplay and that didn’t help them to get back in the game again. However, Nicholas Pooran tried to steady the ship with the middle-order batters. But neither Ayush Badoni nor Krunal Pandya could support him. Pooran scored 61 off 27 with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

However, Arshad Khan played a quickfire knock of 58* off 33 with the help of 3 fours and 5 sixes. But his quickfire knock couldn’t help his side as they lost by 19 runs as well.

After the match, KL Rahul said: “I feel the wicket remained the same throughout the 40 overs. When we got JFM out in the first over we should have capitalized, but they – Hope and Porel – showed a lot of intent. We did well at the back end and 200 was a par total, we should have chased it down. This has been a problem right through the season – we keep losing a lot of wickets in the powerplay, we never get a solid start to get the likes of Stoinis and Pooran in, that is the big reason why we are in this position.”

The 64th match of the IPL 2024 season will be played between Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. However, Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bowl first.

DC won six games so far and lost seven as well. On the other hand, LSG won six games so far and they lost six games as well. However, both teams will try to win the game and keep the momentum on. This is going to be an exciting match for both teams as well.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

IPL 2024: DC vs LSG, Match 64: Who said what at the toss?

Rishabh Pant: We would have batted first. There are a lot of things going on (regarding qualification) but you can only focus on winning the game. If you had not lost too many wickets we would have won that game, but easier to say that from sitting out. That is a concern throughout the season but as a captain you can ask the players to give their best and they are doing that. We have two changes – myself and Naib come in, Warner misses out.

KL Rahul: We will bowl first. It is because of how our team is placed and what will help our team. We are a young bowling attack and get them into the game early, we have experienced batters and they can take the pressure. It is pretty clear for us, we have to win both games. The last two games we have not been up to the mark and have been blasted out of the game. The bowlers have to be brave, as a bowling unit you might fear using change ups but they have to do just back themselves. Couple of changes.

Playing XIs:

Delhi Capitals: Abishek Porel, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Gulbadin Naib, Rasikh Dar Salam, Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (w/c), Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Arshad Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan

Delhi Capitals Impact Subs: Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Praveen Dubey, Swastik Chikara, Lalit Yadav

Lucknow Super Giants Impact Subs: Manimaran Siddharth, Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Prerak Mankad, Krishnappa Gowtham

With the Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants locked in a battle for playoff contention, the stakes couldn’t be higher in their upcoming clash, the 64th match of the Indian Premier League. Despite residing in the mid-table, both teams remain firmly in the hunt for a playoff berth, each with 12 points to their name. As they go head-to-head in this pivotal encounter, expect a tense and thrilling contest, with both sides eager to secure the coveted fourth playoff spot and strengthen their position in the tournament.

As Delhi Capitals gear up for their next match following a disappointing 47-run defeat to Bangalore, they aim to bounce back strongly. Despite the setback, it’s essential to note that Delhi has enjoyed recent success, clinching victory in three of their last five matches. The return of their star batsman, Rishabh Pant, adds significant firepower to the lineup. Pant, the team’s leading run-scorer with 413 runs in 12 innings, missed their previous match due to suspension, making his presence all the more crucial for Delhi’s campaign.

See Also: IPL 2024: Team Analysis: What factors make SRH’s batting side so lethal this season?

Team Form Analysis – LSG & DC

In the upcoming game, two pivotal players to watch out for are Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs. Fraser-McGurk has showcased remarkable form, accumulating 330 runs in only 8 matches, highlighting his explosive power at the start of innings with a striking strike rate of 237.41. Meanwhile, Stubbs has been equally influential, contributing 321 runs across 13 matches, boasting an impressive average of 45.85 and a swift strike rate of 185.54.

Delhi Capitals possess a formidable pace attack led by the lethal duo of Mukesh Kumar and Khaleel Ahmed. Both bowlers have clinched an impressive 16 wickets each in this season’s IPL. Mukesh is particularly known for his precision yorkers, while Khaleel boasts a commendable economy rate of 10.30. This potent combination of right-arm and left-arm pacers is poised to pose significant challenges for Lucknow’s batting lineup.

Additionally, Delhi’s arsenal includes the skilled left-arm wrist spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, who has been a trump card for the team. With 15 wickets in just 10 matches, Yadav has maintained an impressive economy rate of 8.69 and a striking strike rate of 15.60, further enhancing Delhi’s bowling strength.

Lucknow Super Giants commenced their IPL 2024 campaign on a strong note, clinching victories in three out of their initial four matches. However, their momentum has dwindled lately, evidenced by their defeat in five of the last seven games, including three out of the last four encounters. Despite this recent slump, KL Rahul remains a standout performer for the team. The opening batsman has showcased exceptional consistency, accumulating a notable 460 runs in 12 innings, significantly surpassing the run tally of any other Lucknow player.

While Rahul’s stellar contributions have been instrumental, Lucknow will seek to rejuvenate their early-season form by garnering impactful performances from other key players like Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. With their playoff aspirations hanging in the balance, the team will rely on a collective effort to reignite their campaign and secure crucial victories in the remaining matches of the tournament.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the upcoming T20 World Cup, suggesting that the Indian team should utilize Virat Kohli’s exceptional form by opening with him in the tournament. Ganguly highlighted Kohli’s impressive performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), where he currently holds the Orange Cap with 634 runs from 12 matches, averaging 70.44.

Ganguly emphasized Kohli’s recent batting prowess, stating, “The way Kohli batted last night – 90 in quick time, you need to use him as an opener in T20 World Cup. He should open, evidenced by his last few IPL innings which have been outstanding.”

Ganguly express confidence about the squad ahead T20 WC

Regarding India’s chances in the T20 World Cup, Ganguly expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and capability to clinch the trophy after a 17-year gap. He acknowledged India’s lone triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 and believes the current team has the potential to replicate that success.

“This is an excellent squad. I think they have picked the best possible squad. Apart from batting depth, bowling looks excellent.

“Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world at the moment. We have experience in Kuldeep, Axar, Siraj. It’s an ideal combination we have this time,” said Ganguly.

“This is going to be the trend in the years to come. T20 cricket has become a power-oriented game and that’s what it is going to be.

“I was reading Sanju Samson’s comments the other day, where he said there’s no time to settle down in modern T20s. You just have to hit, and that’s the way it is going to be,” said Ganguly.

Commenting on the evolving nature of T20 cricket, Ganguly noted the trend of teams consistently surpassing the 250-run mark in the IPL. He attributed this trend to the evolved mindset of batters and the Impact Player rule, emphasizing the need for bowlers to enhance their skills to counter the aggressive batting displays. Ganguly cited the example of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who has excelled in both IPL and international cricket with his exceptional bowling skills.

“Now, in IPL we are seeing scores like 240, 250 regularly. The main reasons are good batting wickets and the grounds are also not big in India. In the last game between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan (Royals), 26 sixes were hit in a 40-over game, which is almost one six every over.

“That’s how this game has gone and that’s how the players have started approaching the game. The Impact Player rule, where every team has the possibility of adding another batsman, has also added another dimension to it,” he detailed.

“It is not fair for me to make a comment based on a TV grab…”

Addressing questions about the T20 World Cup squad selection, Ganguly supported the inclusion of wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson over Dinesh Karthik. He stated, “Dinesh played well but there are better players than Dinesh. I don’t think you can leave Sanju or Rishabh out.”

Regarding the recent controversy involving Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul and team owner Sanjiv Goenka, Ganguly refrained from commenting, stating it wouldn’t be fair to make a judgment based on limited information.

“It is not fair for me to make a comment based on a TV grab. I don’t know what Sanjeev had spoken to Rahul. So, I leave it at that,” he said.

See Also: Watch: Rohit Sharma’s chat with Abhishek Nayar goes viral, KKR delete video

Ganguly’s insights shed light on the strategic decisions surrounding team composition and player roles ahead of the highly anticipated T20 World Cup.

After a crushing defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) face a crucial moment as their captain, KL Rahul, is considering quitting his leadership role for the remaining league matches of the IPL 2024.

Back-to-Back Defeats

The woes for LSG began with consecutive losses against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), casting doubt on their playoff aspirations. The defeat to SRH, characterized by a dominant batting display by Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, underscored the team’s vulnerabilities.

Owner’s Outburst

Owner Sanjiv Goenka‘s public criticism of Rahul in the aftermath of the SRH loss further exacerbated the situation, highlighting the mounting pressure on the captain and the team management.

Videos of LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s agitated conversation with Rahul emerged on social media after SRH openers made a mockery of LSG bowlers and won the match by 10 wickets.

Notably, Goenka was the owner of the Rising Pune Supergiants when they sacked MS Dhoni as captain and appointed Steve Smith in their second season.

See Also: Watch: LSG owner caught scolding KL Rahul after their loss to SRH

Considerations for Stepping Down

Reports suggest that Rahul, who has shouldered significant responsibility as both captain and key batsman, may opt to step down to focus on his batting prowess for the remaining fixtures. The decision, if taken, could mark a significant shift in the team’s dynamics and strategy.

“There is a five-day gap before the next game against DC. As of now, no decision has been taken but it is understood that if Rahul plans to just concentrate on his batting for the remaining two games, the management won’t mind,” an IPL source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The Road Ahead

Despite the setbacks, LSG remains mathematically in contention for a playoff berth, with an opportunity to accrue crucial points in their remaining fixtures against the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. LSG are still mathematically in contention as they can reach 16 points by winning their remaining two games, vs. the Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on May 14 and vs. the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on May 17.

Potential Leadership Transition

Should Rahul decide to step down, vice captain Nicholas Pooran emerges as a frontrunner to assume the leadership mantle for the remaining matches. Pooran’s formidable batting prowess and experience could provide a stabilizing influence on the team.