Lucknow Super Giants have decided to release KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Nicholas Pooran will be the three retentions.

Rahul led LSG in their first season, but the management is not satisfied with the way he bats in the shortest format.

“The LSG management, including mentor Zaheer Khan and head coach Justin Langer, have concluded that the team has lost all the matches where KL has batted long and scored runs. This shows that he doesn’t take strike rate into account, leading to trouble for the team.

“With the introduction of the Impact Player Rule, the totals have climbed up, and it is not in the best interest of the team to keep a player who takes so much time at the top of the order,” IPL sources told TOI.

Mayank Yadav is considered a prospect, and he could be ahead of Bishnoi on the retention list. “Mayank belongs to LSG as the franchise has invested in him,” the source added. Lucknow could retain Ayush Badoni and Mohsin Khan as uncapped players.

Several franchises are waiting for Delhi Capitals’ call on Rishabh Pant’s retention. If the Southpaw is not retained, he could become one of the most watched-out cricketers in the auction. LSG and Punjab Kings want Pant as their captain.

Parth Jindal, the co-owner, had said that Rishahbh would be their top retention, but the team’s ownership has changed significantly recently.