KL Rahul, the seasoned Indian wicketkeeper-batter and former captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is reportedly set to leave the franchise ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) retention list. According to a report in the Times of India, Rahul has declined LSG’s offer of top retention due to personal and professional reasons.
Rahul’s departure from LSG has sparked interest from several other franchises, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. These teams are expected to aggressively pursue Rahul in the upcoming auction.
Under the IPL retention guidelines, teams can retain up to six players, with financial penalties for each retained player. Retaining five capped players would reduce a team’s auction purse by Rs 75 crore.
The mega auction is scheduled to take place overseas in the last week of November, with an increased auction purse of Rs 120 crore. The total salary cap now includes an auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.
Rahul’s decision to leave LSG is a significant development in the IPL landscape. The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer in the league, leading Punjab Kings and LSG in the past. His departure opens up opportunities for other players to step into leadership roles and for franchises to reshape their squads.
