IPL 2025: Three major reasons why LSG may move on from KL Rahul

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KL Rahul who was once considered one of the most promising talents in Indian cricket, hasn't quite been able to dominate the game like he used to before. There has been a steady decline in his form in recent times.

Earlier, during the IPL 2024 season, his performances have been sporadic at best wherein he came under fire for his strike rate. He came under scrutiny for not adopting the aggressive stroke play in the format.

He was overlooked by the selectors in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2024. There is a distinct possibility that KL Rahul might be released by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025. Let's take a look at the three reasons why KL Rahul might be released by LSG.

1. Potential rift Between KL Rahul and LSG owner: One of the main reasons for a potential release could be the reported rift between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka. Following Lucknow Super Giants' 10-wicket loss in the IPL match versus Sunrisers Hyderabad, the LSG owner had a heated conversation with skipper KL Rahul on the ground and the video clip of the same has gone viral. LSG bought KL Rahul for a record INR 17 crore at the IPL 2022 auction. Reports are rife that LSG might not retain KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

2. Poor intent and strike rate: KL Rahul came under fire for his intent and strike rate. When his teammates adopted aggressive stroke-play, the Bengaluru-born adopted conservative approach which didn't help the team in certain moments. Despite his talent, he lacked the aggression to dictate the terms. As a top-order batter, his strike rate was lower than expected which impacted the team's ability to set or chase high totals. He scored 520 runs at a strike rate of 136.13, laced with four half-centuries.

3. Leadership criticism: KL Rahul’s leadership has also been questioned and under his captaincy, the Lucknow-based franchise hardly lived up to their reputation. His inability to lead the team to the playoffs in IPL 2024 could be one of the reasons why LSG may release him. The 32-year-old faced criticism for his on-field decision-making. LSG finished seventh on the table with seven wins and as many defeats, collecting 14 points as LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the team's IPL debut in 2022.