IPL 2025: LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka's 'team over personal milestones' remark goes VIRAL after KL Rahul's release

The IPL franchises on Thursday (Oct 31) revealed their retention lists with many marquee players being released. The likes of KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant were some big Indian names who got released from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), respectively. Rahul, who led LSG from 2022-24, was under the scanner in IPL 2024 for his leadership and ineffective strike rate.

He was hence shown the door by the Sanjiv Goenka-led Lucknow franchise.

Soon after his release, Goenka's remark of 'team over personal milestones' made heads turn.

Geonka said in a statement, "It was a simple mindset to go in with players who have a mindset to win, who put the team first before their personal goals and personal aspirations and we wanted to retain as much as of core we could."

Notably, after a good start, LSG slipped down the ladder in IPL 2024. Following their heavy loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), in Hyderabad, Goenka's animated chat with Rahulon the sidelines made heads turn and displayed that all is not well between Rahul and the team owner. Thus, his release isn't surprising.

Moreover, LSG skipper Rahul was often criticised for his pace while at the crease. In IPL 2024, he struck at 136.13. Overall, he played 38 games for LSG and scored 1,410 runs. In his three seasons for Lucknow, Rahul never managed to get his strike-rate past the 140-mark. It will be interesting to see which team backs and acquires Rahul in the forthcomingmega auction.

LSG, on the other hand, have retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni andhead into IPL 2025 auction with INR 690 million (INR 69 crore). The mega auction dates are expected to be out soon.