Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said that KL Rahul should be the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) first retention before the IPL 2025 auction. He also added that the franchise’s captain will be sold for at least 18 crores if he is allowed to go into the auction as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “They have three players whom they can retain. The fourth could have been as an uncapped Indian because he would not remain uncapped as he will get the India cap before 31st October. I am talking about Mayank Yadav. They would have definitely wanted to retain him but if he gets the India cap, there is no advantage of retaining him. Then you can use the Right To Match card.”
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“The first is KL Rahul because you want to make him the captain and he is the face of the franchise. You won’t get him for 18 crores in any case. If KL Rahul goes to the auction, he will take 18 crores for sure, and you don’t leave the captain in any case. The captain needs to remain for continuity, love and relationship,” the former India opener added. “At No. 2, I would say Nicholas Pooran, who they gave 16 crores last time as well, and he is a player of that worth. The sort of performances he has given in T20 cricket, don’t even think about it, you have to retain him. He is that good a player.”
However, LSG acquired KL Rahul for ₹17 crore as a draft pick before the last mega auction. Marcus Stoinis (₹10 crore) and Ravi Bishnoi (₹4 crore) were their other draft picks before the IPL 2022 auction as well. Aakash Chopra also added that Nicholas Pooran should be LSG’s second capped retention.
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“For the third also, I am not thinking about an Indian. I am not thinking about Devdutt Padikkal or even Ravi Bishnoi because a spinner won’t go till 11 crores. I am not thinking about Krunal Pandya. He is good, his skill style is limited in availability, but still I would say no. 11 crores will be too much for Krunal Pandya. The third I am thinking of is Marcus Stoinis because they had retained him for 10 crores earlier as well and he is that game-changer kind of a player. I can only think of three, plus Mayank Yadav if he remains uncapped,” he concluded.
