Many changes are expected in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2025 season, and to add more spice, numerous shifts and big players are likely to go under the hammer. Among all these names, one that is the talk of the town is LSG’s current captain, KL Rahul. His retention with LSG looks extremely difficult for now, and it is no secret that the not-so-good relationship between Rahul and LSG was evident in the last IPL.
The animated conversation between LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul came into the spotlight after losing the game against SRH by 10 wickets. Slowly but steadily, things are becoming clearer, although we need to wait until 31st October when the retention list of every team will be revealed. For now, the chances are that we may not see KL Rahul captaining the team is extremely high.
Not to forget, as a leader, Rahul’s captaincy led the team to the playoffs in 2022. Even in 2023, LSG made it into the playoffs, Rahul performed well before getting injured in the middle of the season. Overall, he did well for the camp both as a player and as a leader. But assuming that Rahul will not be retained by LSG, so who will captain the camp then, see three players who could possibly replace him as captain.
Players who might replace KL Rahul as LSG Captain
Rishabh Pant
It all depends on what Delhi Capitals do with Rishabh Pant. Will they release him, or will they retain him? His name is also in the spotlight, as he may leave the DC mix and go under the hammer. In that scenario, we might expect LSG to bid for Rishabh Pant if they release KL Rahul. Since Pant and KL Rahul share similar attributes, especially in wicketkeeping, this could be the best move for LSG. They would not only acquire a aggresive batter for the upcoming season but also a wicketkeeper. Moreover, Pant has an impressive record of captaincy with Delhi Capitals, and he could replicate that success with LSG if they decide to make him captain.
Nicholas Pooran
From within their own camp, Nicholas Pooran is a potential candidate to become captain. He has previously captained LSG and had a fair outing as a leader for the West Indies. His name is also gaining traction as a possible replacement for KL Rahul, which also clearly making his retention with LSG for IPL 2025 highly probable. In that case, he could be a perfect choice for the team to make him a regular captain, as he already understands the team dynamics. There is no unknown factor with him, and he had an impressive last season, scored 499 runs in 16 games with a striking rate of 178.21. He has been an asset, and he will look to capitalise further if LSG decides to make him captain for IPL 2025.
Shreyas Iyer
Last but not least, can LSG think outside the box and acquire Shreyas Iyer, who is also expected to go into the IPL 2025 auction? Last season IPL-winning captain led KKR to the IPL trophy, but despite this achievement, reports coming that Iyer is likely not to be retained by KKR. If we look at his performance last season, he did decently well with 351 runs from 14 games at a strike rate of 146.86. However, currently, Iyer is struggling to get a form back in the domestic circuit, not having enough runs. This could be one reason why KKR is considering new player or say new captain. It will be interesting to see how KKR’s retention goes, but if he is not retained, LSG can target him for the upcoming IPL. With his power-packed batting and proven captaincy, he would be a great fit for LSG as captain in the IPL.
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