Building a Team from Scratch: KL Rahul Reflects on His Incredible Journey with LSG in IPL

New Delhi: Former Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul has shared his thoughts on his tenure with the franchise. Rahul led LSG for three seasons, from 2022 to 2024, before being released by the team prior to the IPL 2025 mega auctions.

KL Rahul led Lucknow Super Giants to the playoffs in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023) but faced a challenging 2024 campaign, finishing seventh in the 10-team table. In a video interview titled ‘KL Rahul Unplugged’, the former skipper discussed his journey with LSG, reflecting on the experience of building the franchise from the ground up.

“It was an amazing experience to start a team from scratch. I was a part of auction strategy all three years. I had a say in everything that happened in the franchise. I played a part in building a team along with Flower and Gambhir. We didn’t have big names but found a to win and go to the playoffs. Those two years are something that I am very proud of,” Rahul said.

KL Rahul also shared his thoughts on parting ways with Lucknow Super Giants. “I felt like I wanted to start fresh, explore options, play well and find some freedom. You see teams like GT and CSK and you see that they are balanced if they win or lose. That environment gives the players best platform to perform. We did that with Flower, Gambhir and Langer,” he explained, reflecting on his desire for a new challenge and the importance of a stable environment.

When KL Rahul was released from the team, franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka explained the team’s approach to player retention. “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,” Goenka said, highlighting the focus on building a selfless, team-oriented squad.

“Our first retention which was an automatic choice, happened within like less than two minutes. We have two uncapped retentions, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni. It was a process that Zaheer Khan, Justin Langer and the analyst and the CEO engaged in.

“We have went with three bowlers from previous seasons, all Indians. Pooran was a no-brainer for everyone. Ayush has done well for us at No.6 or No.7,” he said.