Lucknow Super Giants Eyeing Rishabh Pant As Skipper? Developments Continue As Retention Day Draws Near (Photo credit: BCCI)
Lucknow Super Giants, who are reportedly looking to release skipper KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, are also targeting Rishabh Pant for the position if he is released by the Delhi Capitals. While co-owner Parth Jindal had declared that Pant would be their top retention, some recent reports have suggested otherwise, raising speculations.
According to a report in The Times of India, Delhi are now taking their time to finalise the decision surrounding Pant because of the major overhaul in the running of the franchise's operations.
The report adds that with JSW and GMR now dividing duties over running the franchise and hence Pant's retention is now being discussed again, even as it was a surety a few weeks back.
Many franchises are thus waiting for Delhi to announce their retention list so that they can assume how much money they can spend on their retentions in case Pant is released and they need to pick him up.
Franchises like Lucknow as well as the Punjab Kings, whose skipper Shikhar Dhawan has retired from all forms of cricket, are also reportedly targeting Pant for the top spot.
KL Rahul on his way out?
The report adds that Lucknow are set to part ways with skipper Rahul. Reports have been doing the rounds ever since a video of the owner Sanjeev Goenka and the captain surfaced after a match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where the former was seen speaking to Rahul angrily.
According to sources, the Lucknow team management is not happy with Rahul's strike rate, which is a major reason for them not looking to continue with him in the squad. He scored 520 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2024, at a strike rate of 136.13, which is considered average in terms of T20s in the current period.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Cricket, Sports and around the world.
