KL Rahul looking for 'freedom' and balanced environment at next IPL team

KL Rahul is excited about starting fresh in the upcoming IPL mega auction and hopes to find a team where he can play with "freedom" and be part of a "much more balanced" environment. The India batter was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after their seventh-place finish in IPL 2024, and he is now focusing on finding the right team atmosphere over his captaincy aspirations.

Rahul explained that the decision to enter the auction was already made before comments were made by LSG’s owner, Sanjiv Goenka, about wanting players who put the team first. “I just felt like I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options, and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom and the team atmosphere would be something much more balanced,” he said in an interview.

Rahul, who led LSG to the playoffs in the first two seasons, acknowledged the pressure in the IPL but emphasized the importance of a calm and balanced dressing room. He pointed to teams like Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings as examples of successful environments where players seem to perform well. "I feel like if that happens, it gives all the players the best chance to perform,” he added.

Despite his successful individual performances, Rahul believes the external pressures on LSG in 2024 may have affected their results. He mentioned that the team struggled mid-season and couldn’t perform when it mattered most. "There's always ups and downs. You need to be able to hold your nerves," Rahul said.

Looking ahead, Rahul said that being an IPL captain is not a priority for him at the moment. “It’s not something that is a make or break for me,” he explained. "I just want to be part of a team that has a good environment. You feel loved, cared for, and respected in that environment and everyone on that franchise has one single goal to win.”

While there has been talk of Rahul rejoining Royal Challengers Bangalore, his hometown team, he remains open to playing anywhere. "I most enjoyed playing at RCB. It's also home,” he shared. “I know the Chinnaswamy [Stadium] really well. I've grown up playing on that ground."

Despite the excitement around a potential return to RCB, Rahul remains pragmatic about his future, saying, “It’s an auction year so you can go anywhere.”