Star Indian batter KL Rahul broke his silence since parting ways with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2025

Star Indian batter KL Rahul broke his silence since parting ways with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2025.

With LSG deciding against retaining their captain, Rahul will now enter the IPL 2025 mega auction among the marquee capped Indian players, seeking opportunities to play elsewhere, where he could find the freedom to express himself and a lighter team atmosphere.

Lucknow picked Rahul in the IPL 2022 mega auction, appointing him the captain for the next three years.

Under his leadership, LSG reached the playoffs in the first season but failed to put their hands on the trophy.

The right-handed batter amassed 616 runs in his first season as LSG captain Rahul scored 274 in the next, playing just nine games and 520 in the previous edition, striking at over 135.

Though on merit, Rahul was LSG’s best bet throughout the three editions, but his underwhelming strike rate as an opener and inability to pace the innings saw his team struggle to cross the winning line.

Besides, following the away game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) last season, where his team lost the match by ten wickets, LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka was recorded scolding Rahul publicly, and that particular episode is said to have worsened relations between the two, leading to fallout.

Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Rahul shared details of why he left LSG and his plans ahead with the new season approaching.

"I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options, and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom.

Team atmosphere would be lighter sometimes you just need to move away and find something good for yourself, and I have been out of the T20 team for a while," Rahul said in a chat with Star Sports.

‘Rahul’s aim’
KL could be a standout performer in the One-Dayers for a long time, with his credentials speaking for himself, but he was left out of India’s T20I squad two years ago.

With the new season providing another opportunity for him to succeed and prove his mettle in the shortest format, Rahul discloses his aim.

"I know where I stand as a player, and I know what I need to do to get back.

I look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform to go back and enjoy my cricket.

My aim is obviously to get back into the T20 team," KL added.

Meanwhile, Rahul is in Australia for the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting with the first Test in Perth on November 22.

Rahul, alongside BGT-bound squad member Dhruv Jurel, flew Down Under earlier to feature in the second unofficial Test against Australia A at the MCG.

Dhruv impressed everyone with twin fifties in the game that India A lost, but Rahul failed to deliver as an opener across both innings, registering four and 10.

Besides, should India captain Rohit Sharma declare himself unavailable for selection for the first Test, KL will open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed in a media statement on Monday (Nov. 11).