Indian star batter KL Rahul will be joining a new team for the next IPL season. Known for his strong batting record in the IPL Rahul is expected to join Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the upcoming season.
RCB is planning a big bid for Rahul in the auction. The franchise intends to retain Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj as their top two players, with left-arm bowler Yash Dayal also likely to be retained, though this hasn’t been confirmed.
KL Rahul Set to Return to RCB According to RevSportz, RCB is gearing up to bid for KL Rahul, as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are expected to release him. If signed, Rahul would also take over as RCB’s new captain. However this isn’t a done deal since nothing is certain in the auction.
Besides Rahul, RCB may also consider bidding on Rishabh Pant or Ishan Kishan. Rumors suggest that Delhi Capitals have not yet finalized Pant’s retention, which could place him in the auction pool.
Mumbai Indians, on the other hand are unlikely to retain Kishan but may use the Right to Match option to bring him back.
RCB Needs a New Captain RCB is actively looking for a new captain, as their current captain, Faf du Plessis, is 40 and may not have many seasons left. Signing Rahul would be a long-term plan for RCB – providing them with a strong captain an excellent batter, and a capable wicketkeeper.
Rahul’s History with RCB
KL Rahul began his IPL career with RCB in 2013, playing 19 matches for the team from 2013 to 2016, scoring 417 runs at an average of 37.90 and a strike rate of 145.29.
He was released before the 2017 season and later played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings before joining LSG in 2022 as captain.
Under his leadership, LSG reached the IPL playoffs in 2022 and 2023. However, there were reports of a falling-out between Rahul and LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka, sparking rumors of Rahul’s departure.
Recently, it was reported that LSG’s management is unhappy with Rahul’s strike rate, leading them to decide against retaining him, though they could still bring him back using the RTM option.
