‘KL Rahul is like family, important part of the franchise’: LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka

Lucknow Super Giant owner Sanjiv Goenka has said KL Rahul is like family and an important part of the franchise, indicating that the wicket-keeper bat will be retained before the auction. Goenka was seen having a heated discussion with Rahul after they had suffered an ignominious loss of 10 wickets against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024. 

Ergo, there were reports that Rahul could go on to play for some other franchise in IPL 2025. However, Goenka confirmed they will back their skipper ahead of the upcoming mega auction.

“Look, I’ve been meeting KL regularly over last three years. I’m a little surprised this meeting got so much attention. As I’ve said we have not taken any call till the retention rules are out,” Goenka told reporters while unveiling Zaheer Khan as their team mentor.

“But KL has been an integral and important part of the LSG family since inception. He’s played a very important role. He’s like family and will be family,” he added.

Meanwhile, Rahul was signed by LSG for a whopping amount of INR 17 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, and he led the franchise in the last three editions of the cash-rich league, including two runs to the playoffs in the 2022 and 2023 editions.

Goenka added they are yet to decide on the team’s composition and they will take a call after the retention rules are released by the BCCI.

“We have all of September, October and November to decide that. Let the policies be out. We have not even thought about the team going forward, whether retention will be three-four-five or six, we have no clue,” Goenka said.

“Let us see, there is enough time, so bit by bit. Whatever decisions we take today will impact us for the medium term future, so it has to be very well thought out and considered. There is enough time for it so it’s too early. Let the BCCI announce the policy first, then there will be discussions,” he added.

IPL mega auction is reportedly set to take place in December.