When it comes to the IPL, KL Rahul doesn’t need any introduction since his stats show he has 4,000 runs in just 132 games with a decent average of 134.61, along with more than 50 catches and seven stumpings, making him a valuable player. His performances in the last 50-over World Cup for India were not only impressive with the bat but also with his glovework. However, in the current IPL scenario, KL Rahul has not been picked by LSG, as the team released him before the IPL 2025 mega auction. He is all set to go under the hammer.
Rahul’s base price for the mega-auction is ₹2 crore, but he is expected to generate more hype, and many quality teams are expected to bid for him. It is likely that teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to buy him, as they need a wicketkeeper-batter. We may also see DC showing interest in him, as there is no Rishabh Pant. However, there are a few teams whose chances of showing interest in KL Rahul are slim, although nothing is confirmed as there could be some changes. Let’s see which three quality teams might not go for him in the upcoming IPL 2025 auction.
CSK
The first and foremost team is the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings, who already have MS Dhoni for this season, and it is certain that he will keep wickets. Although there have been reports talking about CSK’s interest in buying Rishabh Pant, as he could solve the who after MS Dhoni? question, CSK will likely look for a wicketkeeper-batter whose batting speaks aggressively. In the current scenario, it is a player like Rishabh Pant, whose strike rate in T20I batting is better than KL Rahul’s. If there is a battle between the two, CSK would likely show more interest in Rishabh Pant than in KL Rahul.
RR
In a similar situation to CSK, Rajasthan Royals already have Sanju Samson in their squad, who is not only the wicketkeeper-batter for them but also a leader. Since he is already part of the team, RR doesn’t need to search for another powerful player with similar attributes. They are likely to target a backup for Sanju in the IPL 2025 auction. Also, RR doesn’t have enough money left, as they only have INR 41 crore remaining after retaining six players. With Rahul likely to fetch a higher price, RR may not be able to afford him, as they still need to build a balanced team.
SRH
The last IPL finalists, Sunrisers Hyderabad, broke all limits to buy Heinrich Klaasen, acquiring the Proteas hitter for INR 23 crore, which is a huge amount. This move essentially closes the door for KL Rahul. The team already has big hitters like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who open the innings, as well as players like Nitish Reddy, who are in the mix to stabilize the middle order. With all these roles filled, there is no space for this Indian wicketkeeper-batter in the squad.
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