Amidst persistent rumors surrounding KL Rahul’s future with the Lucknow Super Giants, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka has addressed the speculation, emphasizing Rahul’s importance to the team.
While Goenka acknowledged that Rahul has been an ‘integral and important part of the LSG family since inception’, he refrained from revealing any concrete decisions regarding player retention or the captaincy for the upcoming IPL season. He attributed this to the pending release of the retention policy by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Goenka’s recent meeting with Rahul in Kolkata had sparked further speculation, particularly following an animated discussion between the two during the previous IPL season after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, Goenka dismissed the heightened attention surrounding the meeting, stating that he has regularly met with Rahul over the past three years.
Regarding the team’s future, Goenka indicated that they will wait for the BCCI’s retention policy before making any decisions. ‘We have all of September, October and November to decide that. Let the policies be out. We have not even thought about the team going forward, whether retention will be three-four-five or six, we have no clue,’ he said.
While hinting at a potential ‘reset’ under the newly appointed mentor Zaheer Khan, Goenka affirmed that the core of the team will be retained, emphasizing that a mega auction necessitates a restructuring of the team. He also confirmed the continuation of key coaching staff members including Justin Langer, Lance Kluesener, and Jonty Rhodes, while welcoming Morne Morkel and Gautam Gambhir to the team’s national setup.
Despite leading LSG to the playoffs in their first two seasons, Rahul’s leadership was questioned after the team’s disappointing performance in the third season, prompting speculation about his future with the team. It remains to be seen if Rahul will be retained and continue as captain, or whether the franchise will opt for a fresh start.
