Senior Indian batsman KL Rahul is poised to part ways with his current IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, ahead of the upcoming season. There are strong indications that Rahul could make a return to Royal Challengers Bangalore, the team where he first appeared in the IPL back in 2013.
With the IPL set to undergo a mega auction before the next season, the league’s governing council is still deliberating on retention rules. This could lead to significant transformations across various teams, with several franchises possibly opting to build their squads from the ground up.
KL Rahul set to leave Lucknow Super Giants
A report in Dainik Jagran says that Rahul’s relationship with his team owner Sanjiv Goenka hasn’t improved since the latter’s famous outburst of emotions in IPL 2024. The incident happened after an IPL 2024 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
SRH chased down the target set by LSG in less than 10 overs with all wickets remaining, which led to Goenka having animated discussions with LSG’s captain KL Rahul after the match. Rahul was seen listening to his team owner patiently and trying to explain the situation.
The incident involving Sanjeev Goenka and a prominent Indian cricketer sparked widespread attention on social media, drawing considerable criticism towards Goenka. However, in an effort to resolve the matter, Goenka invited KL Rahul to his residence in Delhi for dinner a few days later.
During the dinner, both Goenka and Rahul were seen sharing a warm embrace, visibly putting aside any previous tensions. A video capturing this moment quickly circulated on social media, eliciting varied reactions from the public.
LSG’s assistant coach, Lance Klusener, downplayed any speculation of discord between the team owner and captain, labeling the incident as a spirited discussion between two passionate individuals about cricket. He assured that everything remains harmonious within the team.
“I don’t see any problem with some robust discussion between two cricket lovers. So for us, I guess it’s just a storm in a teacup. We love a robust discussion. I think that’s how teams get better. So, it’s not a big thing for us,” Klusener had said at that time.But the incident had already created differences between Goenka and Rahul, according to the reports, despite both of them denying any rumours of possible differences.
Will KL Rahul join RCB?
As per a report from a national daily, KL Rahul is strongly considering a return to his former IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. This move comes as RCB seeks a new captain in light of Faf du Plessis’ age, who, at 40, may not continue as skipper due to advancing years.
Rahul, currently 32 years old, presents a promising long-term option for RCB, given his leadership experience both with LSG in the IPL and occasionally with the Indian team in international cricket. His maturity and skillset make him a viable candidate to lead the team effectively.
Moreover, Dinesh Karthik’s retirement has created an opening in RCB’s lineup for a wicketkeeper-batsman, a role in which Rahul has shown considerable improvement over the years. His dual ability as a top-order batsman and wicketkeeper could provide RCB with a versatile asset in their playing XI.
