IPL Auction 2025: KL Rahul finalized as new RCB captain as Virat Kohli headlines retention list

KL Rahul is set to join a new team in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. Rahul, who has excellent batting numbers in the IPL, is set to join Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season.

While RCB is set to bid high for Rahul in the auction, the franchise will retain Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj as their top two retained players. Left-arm quick Yash Dayal is also expected to be retained but this is not yet confirmed.

Also read: IPL Auction 2025: Shubman Gill’s future decided as Gujarat Titans lock in 3 huge retentions

KL Rahul set to make a comeback to RCB

According to RevSportz, RCB will be bidding for KL Rahul as the batter is expected to be released by his franchise Lucknow Super Giants. If RCB manages to sign him up, KL Rahul will also become the team's new captain.

While RCB is set to sign up Rahul, there is no confirmation because nothing is 100 percent at the auction room. Virat Kohli is expectedly the first retention in their list and Mohammed Siraj is the second one.

RCB update -

Virat Kohli
Md. Siraj
Yash Dayal (Tentative)
Rahul almost confirmed for RCB (just the auction thing where you can’t say anything for 100 percent)
They will go Either KL and Pant or Ishan and KL
Rahul to lead Very much possible

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) October 28, 2024

Royal Challengers Bengaluru is believed to have other plans as well. They will go for one out of Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan in the auction. According to some reports, Delhi Capitals have yet not finalized Pant in their retention list which may bring him to the auction pool.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians are unlikely to retain Ishan Kishan. However, they are likely to use the RTM option for the wicketkeeper-batter rather than retaining him.

RCB need a captain

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in desperate need of a captain right now. Currently, Faf du Plessis is their captain and at 40, he does not seem to have much years left.

Rahul's inclusion is also a long-term investment by RCB. The franchise will not only get a good captain, but a good batter and a wicketkeeper as well.

KL Rahul's connection with RCB

KL Rahul started his IPL journey in 2013 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (then Bangalore). He played 19 matches for the franchise from 2013-2016. Rahul scored 417 runs at an average of 37.90 and a strike rate of 145.29.

However, he was released by the RCB before the 2017 season. Rahul played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings afterwards before joining Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 as a captain.

Under his leadership, LSG reached the IPL playoffs in 2022 and 2023. However, an ugly incident with LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka led to the rumors of Rahul leaving the franchise.

A few days earlier, reports emerged that the LSG team management is not happy with Rahul's strike rate of late and thus, decided to not retain him. The Super Giants still have an option to get Rahul throught the RTM.