Has KL Rahul retired? Cricketer's 'I have an announcement to make' post creates stir

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KL Rahul's simple Instagram Story triggered a rumour which spread like a wildfire on Thursday, August 22. "I have an announcement to make, stay tuned," the India cricketer wrote in one his Instagram Stories as the spammers used the opportunity to spread the fake news of his retirement.

A fake screenshot of his Instagram Story confirming his retirement from cricket was circulated at the same time, sending fans into a state of shock. The retirement post was neatly written, and was good enough to trick anyone.

"After much reflection and consideration, I have decided to announce my retirement from professional cricket. This decision has not been easy, as the sport has been a significant part of my life for many years," the fake Instagram Story of KL Rahul read.

“I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement from my family, friends, teammates, and fans throughout my career. The experiences and memories I have gained on and off the field are truly invaluable. I am honoured to have represented my country and played alongside so many talented individuals.

"While I am excited about the new chapter that lies ahead, I will always cherish the time spent in the game. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey," it added.

KL Rahul's retirement news is FAKE!

However, the post was nowhere to be seen on KL Rahul's Instagram handle as the 32-year-old batter never made any such announcement. As the fans rushed to KL Rahul's official Instagram handle, they could only see the 'I have an announcement to make, stay tuned' story, followed by a story in which the star batter wished his mother-in-law a happy birthday, and one more picture of him to endorse a brand - 'Metaman by Drip Project'.

Kl Rahul's original post asking fans to 'stay tuned' was seemingly for the promotion of Luxury streetwear jewellery brand 'Metaman by Drip Project'. The Instagram handle of 'Metaman by Drip Project' has only seven followers as of now including KL Rahul, his father-in-law Suniel Shetty, co-founder Anil Shetty.

Kl Rahul and Suniel Shetty had invested in Metaman last year. Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath and former cricketer Robin Uthappa have also invested.

KL Rahul gearing up for Duleep Trophy 2024

Further, KL Rahul is now gearing up for the upcoming first round of Duleep Trophy matches which starts from September 5. He has been named in Team A which will be led by Shubman Gill.

He also featured in the ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier in August. India are scheduled to play a total of 10 Test matches in the next five months. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia later this year will alone consist of five Test matches.

With seniors Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara out-of-favour, KL Rahul is expected to play a key role on the Australia tour. KL Rahul will also look to replicate his performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 which will involve top eight ODI teams of the world.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is reportedly set to go back to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, an official confirmation is awaited. The Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter could be seen leading RCB in IPL 2025 if a deal is brokered.