KL Rahul, LSG Owner Sanjiv Goenka Meet in Kolkata Amid Rumours of Wicketkeeper-Batter Returning to RCB for IPL 2025: Report
The Lucknow Super Giants captain met the team owner amid question marks over the wicketkeeper-batter's future at the franchise. KL Rahul-led LSG had failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in IPL history, earlier this season as they finished seventh.
There have been quite a few rumours circulating the retentions for IPL (Indian Premier League) 2025 and one of them was on KL Rahul, who was reportedly set to be released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and is on the radar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a franchise he has played for in the past. Amid such talks, the wicketkeeper-batter reportedly met LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka in Kolkata. Earlier in July this year, there was a meeting held between the 10 franchise owners to determine the future of the mega auction and also talk about the number of retentions that each team can make heading into the big event. Former India Pacer Zaheer Khan Likely to Become Lucknow Super Giants' New Mentor Ahead of IPL 2025: Report.
According to a report in Cricbuzz, KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka met in the 'City of Joy' on Monday (August 26). The report further adds that the discussion in the meeting was about potentially retaining the 32-year-old for IPL 2025 and also determining what the team composition may be. Fans would be able to recall the infamous episode from IPL 2024 when Goenka was involved in an animated discussion with Rahul after LSG was handed a sound defeat by Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad. The loss and subsequent incident between Goenka and Rahul had sparked rumours of LSG releasing the wicketkeeper-batter ahead of the new season. The two had later met and hugged each other at a gathering as well. Later on Amit Mishra, in an interview, appeared to hint at the fact that Rahul might be on his way out of LSG with the franchise reportedly seeking a new wicketkeeper-batter. Suryakumar Yadav Offered Captaincy By KKR Ahead of IPL 2025 Auction: Report.
Rahul and LSG had a tough time earlier this year in IPL 2024, finishing seventh in the 10-team table with 14 points from as many matches. It was also the first time that the franchise did not qualify for the playoffs, having done so in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023). The official retention rules and regulations have not been announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yet and things will become much clearer about Rahul's future at LSG once that happens. In another development, LSG were also said to be interested in having Zaheer Khan join the franchise as a mentor.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2024 08:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).