KL Rahul and Lucknow Supergiants part ways

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is unlikely to retain KL Rahul for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Rahul is currently the captain of Lucknow Super Giants which also means that LSG will be looking for a new captain now.

The reports of him leaving LSG have been on the cards since LSG's owner Sanjiv Goenka's outburst on Rahul after the IPL 2024 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Playing at home, LSG suffered one of the worst defeats in IPL history.

Batting first, the Super Giants scored 165-4 in 20 overs. In reply, Sunrisers' openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma demolished the home side's bowling line-up by chasing down the target inside 9.4 overs.

Sanjiv Goenka, LSG's owner, was disappointed with his team's performance and was seen in an animated discussion with his team's captain KL Rahul after the game. Meanwhile, Rahul was seen patiently listening to Goenka. The video went viral on social media and Goenka was heavily criticized for his behaviour towards one of the star Indian players.

However, after a few days of the incident, Sanjiv Goenka invited KL Rahul for dinner at his home in Delhi. Both shared warm hugs during their unofficial meet and everything seemed on track for LSG again.

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KL Rahul likely to leave LSG ahead of IPL 2025

According to the reports, Lucknow Super Giants is unlikely to retain KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Even if they retain him, Rahul would not be made the captain of the team.

The reports also suggest that the information has been communicated to Rahul already that the Super Giants is already looking for a new captain. Meanwhile, Rahul is likely to move on from Lucknow Super Giants. The information was provided by renowned sports journalist Boria Majumdar through his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

KL Rahul- @LucknowIPL may not retain him. That was always on the cards.

Also had he stayed on he wouldn’t be made captain again. Another factor that has played a part.

Captaincy- it was communicated to him that LSG is looking at someone else.

It is all pointing to his…

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) July 21, 2024

Will KL Rahul join RCB?

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter could join Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the next season. If he joins RCB, he will reunite with the team for whom he made his IPL debut in 2013.

Coincidentally, Rahul can be the perfect choice for RCB as they need a new captain for their team as well. RCB's current captain Faf du Plessis is already 40 and the team is looking for a new experienced skipper who can carry the team forward.

Rahul can also fulfill the role of a wicketkeeper for RCB. His keeping has significantly improved over the past few seasons. With Dinesh Karthik having retired, Rahul could be the perfect choice for the wicketkeeper's spot.