KL Rahul. (Source – Getty Images)
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have a remaining purse of INR 69 crore and also a Right-To-Match card for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega-auction, which is going to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25.
LSG dropped a bombshell last month when they released their captain KL Rahul into the auction pool. However, many would say that the move was along expected lines after the Karnataka batter got involved in an intense discussion with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka following the team’s heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an away game in IPL 2024.
The Super Giants management will want to move forward and get their plans in place to bring in a replacement for someone of the calibre of Rahul. They have retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and Mohsin Khan ahead of the auction. Finding a good replacement for Rahul will be essential as he donned several hats for the franchise like captaining as well as opening the batting. The wicketkeeping duties he performed can be taken up by Pooran.
In this article, CricTracker has listed three players who could potentially fill the massive shoes of the 32-year-old.
Also Check: ‘I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom’ – KL Rahul opens up on leaving Lucknow Super Giants
Top 3 batters LSG could sign as KL Rahul’s replacement in auction:
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan. (Source -IPL/BCCI)
Ishan Kishan is a flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter, who opens the innings for teams in white-ball cricket. He was released by the Mumbai Indians, who cannot bring him back in the auction with the RTM card as they have to pick an uncapped player with it.
Kishan has played 105 IPL games and scored 2,644 runs at an average of 28.43 and a strike rate of 135.87. Last season, he scored 320 runs at an average of 22.86 and a strike rate of 148.84. Kishan might not be as consistent a batter as Rahul but he can get the team off to some exhilarating starts when he is on song. However, LSG will have to look for a new captain as the Jharkhand cricketer hasn’t led any team in the cash-rich league.
Also Check – IPL 2025: List of Players Registered for Mega Auction
2. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant. (Source -IPL/BCCI)
Rishabh Pant could be one of the players LSG could target in the auction. He is going to bring captaincy experience along with him as he has led Delhi Capitals in 43 matches and boasts a win percentage of 53.49. Pant is a fine wicket-keeper who can also guide the spinners with his years of experience.
Pant amassed 446 runs from 13 matches in IPL 2024 at an average of 40.55 and a strike rate of 155.40. This was his best season in terms of runs scored since IPL 2019. Pant has stiff competition from Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeper-batter’s role in the Indian T20I side. He will want to put on consistent performances to climb higher in the pecking order and the Super Giants could benefit from this immensely.
Also Check – My thought process and motivation have always been team first: KL Rahul
1. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer. (Source -IPL/BCCI)
Shreyas Iyer is arguably the best captain available at the auction. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title last season with his shrewd leadership skills. Iyer scored 351 runs from 14 matches at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 146.86 in IPL 2024.
The right-handed batter is a good player of spin and this ability could help him at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, which produces tracks that are in favour of the tweakers. The Super Giants will also get a reliable top-order batter by roping in Iyer.