KL Rahul’s Long Innings Cost LSG Matches – Justin Langer, Zaheer Khan Explain His Release

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KL Rahul’s time with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) appears to be nearing an end, as reports suggest the franchise will not retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega option. 

Despite being LSG’s captain and leading run-scorer in IPL 2024, Rahul’s performance has been under scrutiny, particularly his strike rate over the last couple of seasons, which has raised questions about his impact on the team’s overall success in the cash-rich league.

Stats Behind the Decision

Sources have suggested that newly appointed mentor Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer were instrumental in the decision to release the wicketkeeper-batter. Upon reviewing his performance, they found a pattern—whenever Rahul batted long and scored big, LSG tended to lose the match. This raised concerns about his ability to maintain the required pace in a high-scoring format.

An IPL source shared with The Times of India:

“The LSG management, including mentor Zaheer Khan and coach Justin Langer, has analysed his stats, and it emerged that the team has almost lost all matches where KL batted long and scored runs. That shows his strike rate didn’t match the momentum of the game. With the Impact Player rule raising the bar for scores, there’s no room for batters who take time to settle.”

Although Rahul managed 520 runs in IPL 2024, his inability to accelerate consistently from the top of the order may have cost the team valuable moments. Not just this, but several times, he batted at a lower strike rate in an edition where other teams’ openers were going berserk at the top.

What are LSG’s Retentions and Captaincy Options?

LSG is set to retain express pacer Mayank Yadav, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, and wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran. Additionally, Pooran, who played a key role in the middle order last season, is also being considered a captaincy candidate for IPL 2025.

In addition to the capped players, domestic stars Ayush Badoni and left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan are likely to be retained as uncapped players, each earning Rs 4 crore. Both players have shown glimpses of potential and fit well into LSG’s vision for the future.

The final list of retained players will be announced by October 31, as teams finalize their squads for the 2025 season. If Rahul enters the option pool, he is expected to attract a bidding war, given his experience and leadership qualities.

Meanwhile, LSG seems focused on building a more dynamic team with players who can adapt to the fast-paced demands of modern T20 cricket.

Read Original Content: KL Rahul’s Long Innings Cost LSG Matches – Justin Langer, Zaheer Khan Explain His Release

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