Things are again going downhill for KL Rahul. According to rumours, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have decided to release their captain KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. This decision comes after a disappointing IPL 2024 season where Rahul was unable to guide the team to the playoffs. Despite leading the franchise since its inception in 2022, his form and strike rate have been points of contention.
KL Rahul’s Performance and Departure
KL Rahul, one of the most experienced Indian batters in the league, managed 520 runs in 14 matches during the 2024 season at a strike rate of 136.13. However, his strike rate was the lowest among all batters who scored more than 400 runs. The LSG management, including mentor Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer, analyzed his stats and concluded that the team lost most matches whenever Rahul batted long. This led to the decision to part ways with him.
| Year | Mat | No | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 132 | 20 | 4683 | 132* | 45.47 | 3479 | 134.61 | 4 | 37 | 400 | 187 | 76 | 7 |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 | 520 | 82 | 37.14 | 382 | 136.13 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 19 | 15 | 2 |
| 2023 | 9 | 1 | 274 | 74 | 34.25 | 242 | 113.22 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 3 | 616 | 103* | 51.33 | 455 | 135.38 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 30 | 9 | 0 |
Possible Retainees
While KL Rahul is set to be released, LSG is reportedly keen on retaining three key players for the 2025 season:
- Mayank Yadav (pace sensation)
- Ravi Bishnoi (leg-spinner)
- Nicholas Pooran (West Indian wicketkeeper-batter)
Pace sensation Mayank Yadav, known for his raw pace often exceeding 155 kmph, is set to be retained at a big price. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi despite a relatively quiet 2024 season, remains a vital part of the team’s future plans. West Indian wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran who provided stability in the middle order is also one of the top contender’s to be retained.
The official list of retained players will be announced by October 31, and fans eagerly await confirmation of LSG’s plans for the upcoming season.
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