The challenges of the upcoming Tests in Australia aside, KL Rahul is keen for a fresh start in the IPL.

The former Lucknow Super Giants captain, not among the cricketers retained by the franchise, is on the lookout for a team where the atmosphere could be “something lighter”, enabling him to “find some freedom”.

“I wanted to start fresh. I wanted to explore my options. I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom, where the team atmosphere could be something
lighter. Sometimes you need to move away and find something good for yourself,” Rahul, talking about why he entered the auction pool, said in a promo video posted by Star Sports on their X handle.

Speculation has been rife about which of the franchises could be Rahul’s next destination for IPL 2025. Among them, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s name has been doing the rounds.

For Rahul, though, next year’s IPL will also be about revitalising his hopes and chances of making a comeback in India’s T20I side.

“I have been out of the (India) T20 team for a while and I know where I stand as a player and I also know what I need to do to get back.

“So, I’ll look forward to this IPL season to give me that platform where I can go back
and enjoy my cricket. And my aim is to obviously get back into the Indian T20 team,”
he said.

Both Rahul and the Lucknow franchise had a disappointing campaign in 2024. The Super Giants finished seventh in the standings with 14 points. While four teams
were tied on 14 in the race for the playoffs, Lucknow were the last with a poor net run rate (-0.667).

They were also in the news when team owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen in an animated discussion with Rahul following Lucknow’s humiliating 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on May 8.