Lucknow Super Giants are all set to release KL Rahul for the IPL mega auction, it is learnt. Young pace sensation Mayank Yadav, on the other hand, will be among the top three retentions at the franchise, along with Nicholas Pooran and Ravi Bishnoi.
Rahul has been the captain of LSG in their first three seasons in the IPL but league sources said the team's management is not happy with his strike rate.

KL Rahul's batting number and current form will be keenly watched by the national selection committee as he gets ready to show his wares for India A against an Australia A line-up that will have seasoned Scott Boland in its ranks in the second unofficial Test match starting here on Thursday.

Except for Rahul, there isn't a single player in the India A line-up who has featured in a match at the iconic MCG, where India is scheduled to play the Boxing Day Test from December 26.

Having been dropped midway through the home Tests against New Zealand, the Indian selectors in consultation with the team management decided to send Rahul and reserve keeper Dhruv Jurel for the second 'A' Test before they link up with the senior team in Perth on January 11.

One of the most surprising exclusions from the retention list was star India batter KL Rahul. The Lucknow Super Giants skipper led his side to the playoffs in his first two seasons in charge. However, with a subpar season in 2024, Rahul was released, and he could brew up quite the storm in the auction.

With Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians both in search of a star batter, KL Rahul could prove to be the perfect fit for either side, and a bidding battle could be underway in the mega auction.

Throughout his career, KL Rahul has played 132 matches in the IPL and has amassed 4,683 runs to his name. In his early seasons in the IPL, KL Rahul was one of the best batters and a consistent winner of the orange cap, and the franchises will hope that Rahul can come into his own once more.