KL Rahul
KL Rahul expressed his desire to be retained by the Lucknow Super Giants, however no assurances were given by the franchise.

Senior India batter KL Rahul has conveyed his desire to be retained by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to team owner Sanjiv Goenka, but no guarantees have been provided by the franchise’s top management. Rahul, a former vice-captain of the national team, has fallen out of favour for India’s T20 format selections.

Under KL Rahul’s captaincy, LSG reached the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons. However, many attributed the team’s success to Gautam Gambhir’s strategic planning rather than Rahul’s leadership, which appeared lacking in the third season. “Yes, Rahul came to Kolkata and met Dr. Goenka at RPG head office. He has clearly told Dr. Goenka that he wants to be retained. However, till BCCI comes up with a retention policy, LSG management wouldn’t want to chalk out their plans,” an IPL Governing Council member familiar with the developments in LSG told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

The source added, “Look, Rahul wants retention, but till LSG knows how many are to be retained and what’s the new purse, they can’t commit to anyone.” Following a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad last year, a candid conversation between Rahul and Goenka went viral, though many later described it as a “frank discussion between owner and skipper.”

Even if Rahul is retained, it’s unlikely he would be the first choice. Retaining him as a primary option could cost LSG between Rs 18 to 20 crore, which would significantly reduce their auction budget. Currently, franchises are looking for players with an “X factor,” and Rahul’s traditional style of play may not fit the bill for modern T20 cricket.

Additionally, his leadership track record with various franchises has been underwhelming. Unlike star players such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, or Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul has not been a major draw for team sponsorships. This might push him back into the auction, where he may not attract significant bids.

Meanwhile, it is understood that LSG has finalized a deal with Zaheer Khan, who will be unveiled as the team’s mentor soon.

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Last Updated on August 27, 2024