New Delhi:
KL Rahul’s separation from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was one of the major talking points about the IPL 2025 retention phase ahead of the mega auction. Rahul has parted ways from LSG after three years, with the batter revealing that he wanted to go back into the auction pool. Following the retention announcement, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated that the franchise retained players who they believed would put the team ahead of personal ambition.
“It was a simple mindset to go in players, who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and personal aspirations,” Sanjiv Goenka said after LSG announced its set of retained players ahead of IPL 2025 auction.
On Tuesday, Rahul responded to these statements.
“The decision was made already. I don’t know what the comments are but they must have come after the retentions were made. Just felt like I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to to play somewhere where I can find freedom and team atmosphere would be something lighter, much more balanced, pressure is already very high in IPL ,” said Rahul, in an interview to Star Sports.Â
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Further in the interview, Rahul mentioned the need to maintain a balanced culture within a franchise.
“I wanted to play in a team atmosphere where it is lighter. Dressing rooms like GT (Gujarat Titans) and CSK (Chennai Super Kings) seem balanced and calm even they lose, and that is important to me as a player,” said Rahul.Â
Rahul will go under the hammer in the IPL 2025 mega auction, which will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah.