KL Rahul to move out of LSG ahead of IPL 2025?

KL Rahul (Pic: File Pic)

There have been speculations about Rishabh Pant moving out of his Indian Premier League franchise Delhi Capitals ahead of the mega auction for the upcoming edition, sources have told IANS firmly that the wicketkeeper-batter will remain with the franchise.

Various sections of the media claimed that Rishabh Pant is potentially leaving the franchise. Amid rumours, the wicketkeeper-batsman is being linked with Chennai Super Kings, the team of the legendary M.S Dhoni, whose big brother-like relationship and camaraderie with Pant is no secret to the cricketing world.

But sources have told IANS that as of now, Pant is still very much with DC and he is in sight to be retained by the franchise alongside Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, who have been vital cogs for the team in the past few seasons. The trio also became Men's T20 World Cup winners via India clinching the silverware in the shortest format at Barbados on June 29.

Pant has been with the franchise since 2016 when he was picked by them in the auction held on the day he scored 111 off 96 balls for India in the 197-run win over Namibia in the Men's U19 World Cup quarterfinal in Bangladesh.

Also Read: A look at KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant's ODI records

Since then, Pant has become a mainstay of DC, amassing 3284 runs in 111 games, averaging 35.31 at a strike rate of 148.93, including smashing a century and 18 fifties, earning him a huge following from the franchise's fan base.

Pant, who's captained the side in IPL 2021, 2022, and 2024, has also taken 75 catches and effected 38 stumpings as a wicketkeeper for DC, who's searching for a new head coach post-Ricky Ponting's departure from the role.

Also, KL Rahul's move to Royal Challengers Bengaluru from Luck Super Giants has been the talk of the town, with sources adding that the talk around it is in a ‘very initial stage' currently and ‘you never know what can happen in future'.

KL Rahul has been leading LSG since their debut season in 2022 but this year the Lucknow team finished in seventh position. Earlier, Rahul has played for RCB in 2013 and 2016. During his second stint, the stylish right-hander managed to score 397 runs in 14 innings. It included four half-centuries.

Sources have also said to IANS that RCB is keen on having a local face in their team, as well as having a player who can also take up the leadership mantle for the coming cycle both of which Rahul can handle presently.

There has been no official word yet on the make-up of player retentions, plus the salary of retained players and overall purse, or whether the Right to Match (RTM) option will be available at the mega auction.

For now, all eyes will be on the 10 franchise owners' meeting with BCCI happening at the end of this month (or most likely on July 30), followed by the subsequent months of frenetic activity till the retained players' submission deadline and trading period comes into effect.

(With IANS Inputs)