Lucknow Super Giants eye THIS 26-year-old sensation as KL Rahul’s replacement, not Rishabh Pant

New Delhi: On October 31, IPL franchises revealed their retained and released players for the 2025 mega auction, with Lucknow Super Giants making headlines by releasing their captain of the last three seasons, KL Rahul. Although early reports suggested they might pursue Rishabh Pant, who was also released by Delhi Capitals, the franchise reportedly has a different target in mind.

According to a PTI report, Lucknow Super Giants are eyeing Ishan Kishan as a replacement for KL Rahul as the team’s primary wicketkeeper-batter. Kishan was notably one of the biggest releases by Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2025, but MI retains a Right to Match (RTM) card, which they could use to retain him if he is targeted in the auction.

The report also indicates that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with a substantial Rs 83 crore remaining in their budget, may aggressively pursue KL Rahul in the IPL 2025 auction. Notably, Rahul could be considered as a captaincy option for RCB, despite rumors suggesting that Virat Kohli has agreed to lead the franchise.

Commenting on Lucknow Super Giants’ retentions, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka emphasized that they have retained only those players with a winning mindset who prioritize the team over personal goals and aspirations, a statement that could be interpreted as an indirect critique of KL Rahul.

“It was a simple mindset to go in for players, who have a mindset to win, who put the team before their personal goals and personal aspirations,” he said.