"Make it happen RCB" - Fans react as KL Rahul is auction-bound ahead of IPL 2025
Lucknow Super Giants released Team India batter KL Rahul, ending the three-year association between the franchise and the player. He was left out of LSG's retention list that was announced today (Thursday, October 31).
KL Rahul joined the newly formed Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 from Punjab Kings for ₹17 crore. The Karnataka batter was appointed as the skipper of the franchise and led them to the third spot on the points table in the first season.
LSG qualified for the Eliminator but fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They made it to the playoffs for the following year in 2023 but finished seventh in the points table, missing out on the Playoff spots for the very first time.
Following the last season, LSG has made a change in their backroom staff, adding former Indian pace sensation Zaheer Khan to their coaching set-up. The support staff seems to have decided to move on from the Karnataka batter, with the player being released.
Fans online were quick to react to his absence from the retention list and also voiced their opinion on where could the star batter be headed next. One user wrote on X:
"10 years since that trembling youngster of touch and tease first tiptoed into RCB. Now in his immaculate maturity. 💪🏽 KL Rahul. Make it happen. @RCBTweets. The prodigal son should return home."
"Ishan Kishan would be a win but RCB will likely go for KL Rahul. Hope he finds his form there." - Another user quipped
"Rahul is different class , it doesn't matter the current form but the owners and mentors who are mature definitely try to have Rahul in team" - a third user said
Take a look at a few more tweets below:
Lucknow Super Giants head into the Mega Auction with five retentions
Lucknow Super Giants have decided to retain five players for ₹51 crore and enter the auction with ₹69 crore in their kitty along with a Right to Match card. Nicholas Pooran leads the pack, with the Trinidadian being retained for a sum of ₹21 crores and taking up the first spot.
Lucknow Super Giants retentions: Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crores), Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crores), Mayank Yadav (₹11 crores), Ayush Badoni (₹4 crores) and Mohsin Khan (₹4 crores).