IPL 2025 mega auction: 3 teams who might target KL Rahul

KL Rahul led LSG in the last three IPL seasons.

KL Rahul’s journey with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has ended for now as the franchise has released their captain of the last three seasons. LSG are unlikely to use their one RTM card on Rahul in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

Rahul had left Punjab Kings and joined LSG when the franchise made its debut in IPL 2022. He led them to two playoff finishes but things unravelled between Rahul and owner Sanjiv Goenka last season, during which Goenka publically confronted Rahul after a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 32-year-old would be available to be bought at the IPL 2025 mega auction. He could either be bought by any of the three franchises he was part of before LSG or could find a new home.

Rahul has vast experience of over 130 IPL games, has been leading in the IPL since 2020, and doubles up as a keeper. These traits are set to trigger a bidding war at the mega auction for KL Rahul.

Three teams that might target KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 mega auction:

1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

A team that seems primed to target KL Rahul at the IPL 2025 mega auction is RCB. Rahul had a terrific IPL 2016 with RCB – when he averaged 44 and struck at 146, hitting four fifties in the season – but missed the 2017 season due to injury and then was released ahead of the 2018 mega auction.

He then played for Punjab and Lucknow but now could be back at RCB, who have retained only three players and hence have a huge purse of INR 83 crores. RCB have released captain Faf du Plessis and their keeper Dinesh Karthik has retired from the IPL.

Rahul has always been adored by the RCB fanbase, also because he is from Bangalore. Fans can expect RCB to go really high for Rahul in the mega auction.

2. Kolkata Knight Riders

In a shocking decision, Kolkata Knight Riders have parted ways with their IPL 2024 winning captain, Shreyas Iyer. There isn’t any captaincy candidate in KKR’s six retained players and they could be predicted to look at Rahul as their future captain.

KKR have also released their keeper-opener of the last season, Phil Salt, the roles Rahul can fill. So, Rahul could be a good fit for KKR, not least also because of the batting-friendly Eden Gardens surface on which Rahul can bat without any inhibitions.

3. Delhi Capitals

Apart from LSG and KKR, the other team that has released their Indian skipper is Delhi Capitals, who have let go of Rishabh Pant, under whom they failed to qualify for the playoffs last season.

Rahul could prove to be an apt replacement for Pant at DC. Apart from being a keeper-batsman, Rahul has similar experience in the IPL as a player and captain as Pant. So, DC won’t have worry about taking punt on an inexperienced skipper. Since Delhi also haven’t retained David Warner, roping in KL Rahul would solve that worry as well.

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