KL Rahul could end up being the most expensive pick of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Although Indian cricket connoisseurs love to hate him, the franchises think otherwise. For all the criticism the star batter gets for his slow play or lack of intent, he provides incredible flexibility as a batter and can keep the wickets as well.
KL ‘to be rich’ Rahul?
So, while Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rahul together head towards an amicable split, other franchises are ready to pounce on the opportunity. If not their captain, Rahul can be their best batter and fill any hole the team might have in their lineup. That’s why at least four franchises are willing to bid big for him come the auction next month.
“KL Rahul, who captained LSG for three seasons, taking them to the playoffs twice, could be a hot buy, especially as he offers captaincy skills. There are four franchises who have expressed their interest in him: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. Expect all four to go hard for him in the auction,” a source told the Times of India.
KLR = Future RCB captain?
All have different objectives. For RCB, they might be looking for a captain. Faf du Plessis is 40 now, and the franchise wants to think about the future now. Just like Faf, Rahul’s an opener, and on top of that, he’s already played for RCB and found incredible success. If he indeed goes there, it’ll be a win-win situation.
KL Rahul, Dhoni & Saha’s replacement?
CSK wants an MS Dhoni replacement. Thala might play this season, but who knows about the next and the one after that? Rahul may not be that young (32) either, but he can take over the wicketkeeper mantle for a good 5-year period. With Ravindra Jadeja also nearing the end of his career, having another Indian superstar would also help.
Similar to CSK, GT too wants a wicketkeeper. They currently have Matthew Wade (36), Wriddhiman Saha (40), and BR Sarath (28). They really need a gloveman, and KL Rahul can do that job well. Shubman Gill is a young captain, and Rahul might help his junior India teammate in crunch times.
Why does RR need him?
It seems weird that Rajasthan Royals need Rahul’s services. They already have two great openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, along with two keepers, Buttler and Sanju Samson. Riyan Parag’s present in the middle order. So, RR bidding won’t make much sense, but they have a special role for him in the team that we aren’t privy to.
