He’s Exemplary, But One Player Doesn’t Make A Team - PBKS Owner Ness Wadia On Retaining KL Rahul For IPL 2022

Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia opined on whether PBKS is looking to retain captain KL Rahul for the IPL 2022 edition or not. This comes after several media reports claimed that KL Rahul, who has been leading the franchise from IPL 2018 onwards, is looking to part ways with the team before IPL 2022.

Ness Wadia, who is a part-owner of the PBKS franchise, did not rule out the possibility of Rahul not being retained but did not state anything in certain terms either.

“There are many players apart from KL Rahul, firstly. One player does not make up a team, I’ve always said that. Having said that, every player has a value and one thing I will say is we’ve learnt to adjust and adapt throughout. Any team that hinges too much on one player that does prove beyond a point a liability”, said Wadia in an interview to NDTV 24×7.

KL Rahul has made 2548 runs in 55 matches for PBKS from 2018-2021 with 2 centuries and 23 half-centuries at an average of 56.62 and a strike rate of 139.76. His highest score was 132*, which came in IPL 2020.

I Think KL Is Exemplary In Anything And Everything He Has Done, But He Alone Doesn’t Make Up A Team: Ness Wadia.

The IPL 2022 will be a ten-team affair with two new franchises – Ahmedabad and Lucknow – being added to the existing eight teams. Before the next edition of the Indian Premier League in 2022 begins, a mega auction will take place that would see all the players being shuffled across the franchises, with only a handful of retentions allowed. The BCCI is yet to give the details regarding the same.

“’I think KL is exemplary in anything and everything he has done. The way he has fought back after going through a lot of issues two years ago – he’s one of the only cricketers who is consistent. But like I said cricket is about 11 team members, not one.

“As far as the right-to-match or retention (is concerned), whatever happens, we’ll be ready for it. That’s the IPL – we’ve learnt to adjust, adapt and go forward and keep smiling,” Wadia further said about retaining KL Rahul.

Punjab Kings have finished at an identical 6th spot in the tournament in each one of the last four editions. But KL Rahul has been excellent with the bat, winning the Orange Cap for scoring most runs in 2020, while he ended as the third-leading run-getter in the recent edition.

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