Reports: Lucknow Super Giants set to release KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction

If reports are to be believed, KL Rahul's tenure with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is going to come to an end soon as he is set to be released by the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. The franchise is reportedly unhappy with his strike rate, which has been a topic of debate for a long time.

Rahul joined the franchise ahead of IPL 2022 and captained them till last season. The Super Giants reached the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 before finishing seventh this year. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen confronting the skipper after LSG suffered a defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 8. Since then, there have been speculations of a rift between the two. However, Rahul had visited Kolkata in August to meet Goenka and some fans thought that the two had buried the hatchet.

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"The LSG management, including mentor Zaheer Khan and coach Justin Langer, analysed his stats and it has emerged that the team has almost lost all matches where KL has batted long and scored runs. That indicates that his strike rate doesn't match the momentum of the game. With the Impact Player rule, the scores are getting higher. You can't afford to have someone taking so much time at the top of the order," IPL sources told TOI.

However, LSG has not ruled out the possibility of bidding for him at the auction. The franchise may decide on the day of the auction how much of their purse they are willing to dish out for the wicketkeeper-batter.

Mayank Yadav could be ahead of Ravi Bishnoi in retention list

Tearaway speedster Mayank Yadav burst onto the scene with some exhilarating performances for LSG in IPL 2024. IPL sources have said that the LSG team management feels Mayank is one for the future and it shouldn't come as a surprise if he is ahead of leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the retention list.

"Mayank is LSG's find. They invested in him when no one knew of him and he has shown what kind of impact he can have on a match," IPL sources said, adding that LSG are trying to keep as much of the purse as possible for the young gun. Meanwhile, right-handed batter Ayush Badoni and left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan could be retained as uncapped players by the Lucknow-based outfit.

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Meanwhile, teams are waiting for Delhi Capitals to reveal their retention list. There are speculations of the franchise releasing their captain Rishabh Pant. Teams like LSG and Punjab Kings are very interested to rope in the 27-year-old as their skipper. There are also a few more teams keen on acquiring the services of Pant.