Lucknow owner Sanjiv Goenka opens up on their captain’s future with the franchise

Lucknow franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka opens up regarding the future of KL Rahul with the team for the Indian t20 League 2025. The team management will take decisions only when the Cricket Board of India announces the new retention rules. Rahul has been leading the franchise for the last three years. The franchise made it to the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 but their performance could have been better in the 17th edition of the tournament. During the last season, Goenka publicly scolded KL Rahul after Hyderabad trashed their side which was considered as one side win for Lucknow. 

Reports are in the air that the star Indian batter would prefer to leave the franchise. Yet the owner and the skipper recently held a meeting in Kolkata which led to speculations that he might stay with the team this season. 

While speaking to a news channel, Goenka said that he was surprised that their discussion earned a lot of attention. The Lucknow owner also stated that Rahul is just like his family.

“I have been meeting KL Rahul over the last three years. I was a little surprised that our meeting got so much coverage. We haven’t taken any call on the retention of the players as we are waiting for the rules,” Goenka told reporters while announcing Zaheer Khan as the team’s mentor.

“Rahul has been like a family since 2022. He has been magnificent for us and will always remain an integral part of the team.”

“There is enough time to decide about the retention of the players”: Sanjiv Goenka.

Goenka expressed that there is sufficient time and they will take a decision once the rules of the retention are out. “We can decide til November. Let the policies come out. We haven’t given it a thought yet. We don’t know how many players will be allowed to remain with the teams,” Goenka said.

“We don’t want to take a call now as it could impact us in the future. It has to be a well-thought-out decision.

“Let the Cricket Board of India announce the policy first, and then there will be discussions with the team management.”