KL Rahul is looking forward to the next phase of his IPL career with renewed optimism as he enters the 2025 mega auction. The star India batter, who was recently released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) following their disappointing seventh-place finish in IPL 2024, has stressed the importance of playing in a “balanced” team environment, one where players feel “loved, cared for, and respected.”
Rahul’s departure from LSG came after a season that saw the franchise underperform despite his strong individual form. The 32-year-old finished as LSG’s highest run-scorer with 520 runs at a strike rate of 136.12. However, the team’s overall performance in IPL 2024 fell short of expectations, with LSG failing to secure a playoff spot after a mid-season slump.
In an interview with Star Sports, Rahul explained that his decision to enter the auction was driven by a desire to start fresh, explore new options, and find an environment that would allow him to play with more freedom. “I just felt like I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom and the team atmosphere would be something much more balanced,” he said.
Rahul highlighted the importance of a harmonious dressing room, pointing to teams like Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings as examples of successful franchises with a calm, balanced environment. “When they win or lose, they seem really balanced and the dressing room is really calm,” Rahul added. “That’s something that’s very important for me as a player. I feel like if that happens, it gives all the players the best chance to perform.”
While LSG made efforts to create a positive team atmosphere during Rahul’s tenure, with coaching stints under Andy Flower, Gautam Gambhir, and Justin Langer, the batter believes that sometimes a change of environment is necessary for personal growth. “We tried that at LSG… it was a brilliant atmosphere, but sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself,” he said.
Despite his leadership role in LSG for the past few seasons, Rahul made it clear that captaincy is no longer a primary focus for him. “Captaincy is not something that is a make or break for me,” he stated. “I just want to be part of a team that has a good environment. You feel loved, cared for, and respected in that environment and everyone on that franchise has one single goal to win—that’s a perfect fit.”
Rahul’s remarks follow an ongoing wave of speculation regarding his future in the IPL, with some pundits suggesting a potential reunion with his former team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The idea of a return to RCB, Rahul’s hometown team, has gained traction, especially with the player’s long-standing ties to Bangalore. “I most enjoyed playing at RCB. It’s also home,” Rahul shared, adding that he knows the Chinnaswamy Stadium well from his formative years. “I really enjoyed my time in RCB.”
Would he be open to a reunion with the franchise? “Yeah, of course. Like I said, it’s kind of home and the people there know me as a local Kannada boy, and it would be nice to go back there and get an opportunity again,” Rahul admitted. However, he was quick to temper expectations, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the auction process. “But yeah, it’s an auction year, so you can go anywhere.”
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As Rahul prepares for the upcoming auction, the 2025 IPL season promises to be a fresh chapter for him, one where he hopes to rediscover his best form in a nurturing and positive team environment.