“I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom” – KL Rahul on parting ways with LSG ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Indian batter KL Rahul has opened up about parting ways with Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rahul led Lucknow Super Giants for three seasons, taking them to playoffs on two occasions in IPL 2022 and 2023.

However, Rahul said he wanted to go and play for the franchise where he could find some freedom. Meanwhile, in IPL 2024, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen having a heated discussion with Rahul after team’s 10-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rahul said in a video uploaded by Star Sports on X, “I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom, where the team atmosphere could be something lighter. Sometimes you need to move away and find something good for yourself.”

Meanwhile, Rahul played his last T20I for India in the 2022 World Cup against England at Adelaide Oval. The flamboyant batter said his aim is to get back into India’s T20I team.

“I have been out of the T20 team for a while and I know where I stand as a player and I know what I need to do to get back, so I’ll look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform where I can go back and enjoy my cricket and my aim is to obviously get back into the Indian T20 team,” said Rahul.

Rahul has scored 2265 runs in 72 T20I matches at an impressive average of 37.75 and a strike rate of 139.13.

Rahul can open the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the opening Test match against Australia in the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma, who is set to miss the action due to personal reasons.

The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.