KL Rahul has ignited a fresh wave of speculation regarding his relationship with IPL team owners, particularly in light of his past association with Sanjiv Goenka, owner of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). In a recent interview, Rahul alluded to the challenges of explaining cricket-related decisions to individuals lacking a sporting background, a comment widely interpreted as a veiled dig at Goenka.
Rahul's remarks come after a somewhat controversial stint with the Lucknow Super Giants, where he served as captain from 2022 to 2024. Despite being the team's top run-scorer in IPL 2024, he was not retained by LSG for the 2025 season. This decision followed public criticism from Goenka after a crushing defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, where cameras captured a tense exchange between the two. The দৃশ্য quickly went viral, fueling rumors of a rift between the captain and owner.
In a recent interview with sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru, Rahul discussed the pressures of leading an IPL team, highlighting the extensive meetings, reviews, and explanations required at the ownership level. While he refrained from mentioning Goenka by name, he conveyed the difficulties in justifying team selections and tactical decisions. Rahul explained, "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".
He further elaborated on the types of questions he faced: "Why did Jatin play in the XI? Why is it that the opposition got 200, and we couldn't even get 120? Why are their bowlers getting more spin?". Rahul contrasted this with the international arena, where coaches and selectors, all experienced cricket professionals, understand the game's nuances. He emphasized that in international cricket, he was only answerable to the coach and selectors. Rahul then stated, "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".
These comments have been interpreted as a subtle jab at owners like Goenka, who may demand immediate results without fully grasping the complexities and uncertainties inherent in cricket. Despite the controversy surrounding their relationship, Goenka has previously described Rahul as a "family member" and wished him success.
Currently, KL Rahul is contracted with the Delhi Capitals (DC) for a sum of INR 14 crore. There is speculation that he may be given the responsibility to lead the team in IPL 2026. It remains to be seen whether Rahul's recent statements will have any further implications for his relationships with IPL franchise owners in the future.
