IPL Auction 2025: KL Rahul can join CSK for INR 25-30 crore, bluntly claims Aakash Chopra

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has opined that the star wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul will be in high demand at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

According to Aakash Chopra, several franchises would be looking to have KL Rahul in their squad and the wicketkeeper-batsman could be sold for INR 25-30 at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

KL Rahul set to leave Lucknow Super Giants

The 3-year journey of KL Rahul with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has reportedly ended as the batter and the franchise have decided to part ways.

Rahul was the draft pick of the Lucknow Super Giants when they entered the Indian Premier League in 2022 and he was also named as the captain of the franchise.

KL Rahul was brilliant with the bat in his debut season with LSG and took them to the playoffs. In 2023, Rahul suffered an injury midway through the season, but the Lucknow Super Giants still made it to the playoffs.

Things, however, weren't good for the Super Giants in IPL 2024 as they finished at the seventh spot and reports emerged about the franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka being unhappy with Rahul's batting and his captaincy. Goenka was even seen bashing Rahul on the field after the loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad and it shocked many.

Now according to the latest reports, the star wicketkeeper-batsman has decided to leave Lucknow Super Giants due to personal and professional reasons.

Rishabh Pant is going to get a lot of money - Aakash Chopra

Along with KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant is another star wicketkeeper-batsman, who is likely to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction as Delhi Capitals will reportedly not retain him.

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that both Pant and Rahul would be in high demand and franchises would break the bank to acquire the services of the duo. He said:

"Rishabh Pant is going to get a lot of money. The amount could go to ₹25 crore or even 30. The same is true for KL Rahul. Again a wicketkeeper-batter and scores 500-600 runs every year."

Some people will cry over his strike rate - Aakash Chopra on KL Rahul

Overall, Rahul has played 38 matches for the Lucknow Super Giants and has scored 1410 runs at an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67. The strike rate of Rahul has been heavily criticized, and some reports have claimed that it was one of the reasons why LSG were unhappy with him.

However, Aakash Chopra doesn't think that the low strike rate of the wicketkeeper-batsman will have any impact on his auction price as he is likely to fetch a big amount with Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders looking to hire him.

"Some people will cry over his strike rate. I saw a meme somewhere that he is more than 30 years old, married, and everyone is saying he is finished, so CSK might take him as such players go there," added Chopra.

"He can go to Bengaluru as well. Of course, it's his home as well. All the same franchises, Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, where his numbers are very good, Kolkata, everyone needs him," Chopra said.