“I could find some freedom”, KL Rahul takes a subtle dig at Sanjiv Goenka for leaving Lucknow Super Giants
Teams have already announced their official retention list and Lucknow Super Giants have not retained their captain from IPL 2024, KL Rahul.
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KL Rahul, Sanjiv Goenka (Via X)
The IPL 2025 mega auction is around the corner, to be held on November 24 and 25 in Riyadh. Teams have already announced their official retention list and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have not retained their star batter and captain from IPL 2024, KL Rahul. The player recently opened up on the reason behind leaving LSG.
Rahul claimed that he wanted to start fresh and get some other options in the auctions. He mentioned that he wants an atmosphere which is friendly, and an environment that helps him play freely with intent.
This was allegedly a subtle dig at the LSG owner, Sanjiv Goenka, as reports stated that everything was not right between Goenka and Rahul. There has been a rift between the two personalities after Goenka argued with Rahul publicly after the end of a game In IPL 2024.
I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where you know, I could find some freedom and team atmosphere could be you knoe something lighter and sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself.
KL Rahul said to Star Sports
Rahul has always been criticized for his low strike-rate in T20 cricket in the last few years and has also faced the axe from the Indian T20I team after the T20 World Cup in 2022. Recently, he is also facing criticism for his underperformance in Test cricket and fans want him dropped from the Test side ahead of the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, the Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir has backed him.
KL Rahul wants to use IPL 2025 to return to the Indian T20I team
Team India is already planning and trying squad combinations under captain Suryakumar Yadav for the T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in India. Rahul mentioned that he wants to use IPL 2025 to the best of his abilities to stage a comeback to the Indian T20I team.
I have been out of the T20 team for a while and I know where I stand as a player and I know what I need to do to get back, so I’ll look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform where I can go back and enjoy my cricket and my aim is to obviously get back into the Indian T20 team.
KL Rahul said in a promo video by Star Sports
Rahul has been part of teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and LSG in the IPL. Reports state that RCB will be going all guns blazing to acquire the player in IPL 2025 mega auction. He has played 123 innings in 132 IPL matches, scoring 4,683 runs at an average of 45.47, and has a strike-rate of 134.61. The batter has tallied four centuries and 37 half-centuries to his name in this tournament so far.
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Rohit Sarkar
(276 Articles Published)