Team India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul opened up about the pressures of leading an IPL franchise ahead of the upcoming mini-auction, which is set to take place next month.
Rahul didn’t mention Sanjeev Goenka’s name but stated that constant demands for explanations after losses were mentally exhausting.
The right-handed batter spent three seasons with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). During the 2024 season, videos of Goenka visibly reprimanding Rahul went viral after the match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). While Rahul is one of the IPL’s most consistent batters, his stint as captain brought limited success.
Lucknow’s Loss to SRH in 2024 Sparked Tension Between KL Rahul and Sanjiv Goenka
In 2024, Lucknow Super Giants suffered a 10-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, who chased 165 in just 9.4 overs. Following the defeat, team owner Sanjiv Goenka had an animated chat with KL Rahul, and their relationship reportedly deteriorated afterward.
Despite being LSG’s top run-scorer in IPL 2024, Rahul was not retained ahead of the 2025 mega auction. Under his captaincy, Lucknow reached the playoffs in their first two seasons after debuting in 2022, even though they couldn’t progress to the final.
The wicketkeeper-batter still remains the highest run-getter for the Lucknow-based franchise in the IPL. He scored 1,410 runs in 38 matches at an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67, including two centuries and 10 fifties.
I Am More Mentally and Physically Drained – KL Rahul
Speaking to Jatin Sapru, KL Rahul didn’t mention Sanjiv Goenka by name but clearly hinted at the strain caused by constant questioning from franchise owners after losses. Rahul said that giving explanations to owners left him mentally and physically exhausted, even more than a full international season.
“What I found hard as a captain in the IPL was the number of meetings that you needed to do, the number of reviews that you needed to do, and the number of things that you needed to explain at the ownership level. All of that is really like energy draining. So I realised at the end of IPL that I am more mentally and physically drained than after playing 10 months of international cricket,” Rahul told Sapru.
There’s Nothing in Sport That Guarantees Victory – KL Rahu
KL Rahul pointed out that at the international level, decisions are evaluated by coaches and selectors who understand the game, whereas franchise owners without a sporting background may expect guaranteed results.
“I mean, these are questions that we never get asked through the year, right? Because the coaches who are there know what’s going on. You’re only answerable to the coach and the selectors who’ve all played cricket and understand the nuances of cricket and sport,” Rahul opined.
“No matter what you do and how many boxes you tick, there’s nothing in sport that guarantees victory. So that’s the hard part to explain to people who come from a non-sporting background,” he added.