IPL AUCTION 2022: KL Rahul is all set to lead Lucknow overpassing Virat Kohli

KL Rahul has decided to leave his base IPL Franchise Punjab Kings and to join the new Lucknow Team ahead of IPL 2022 season. KL Rahul has played 94 matches in IPL till now and has gathered 3,273* runs. 

While the auctions are to be held in early January it is heard that the Lucknow team has been undergoing inquiries by the BCCI because of the complaint filed by the Punjab Kings and Sunrisers HYD., which tells Lucknow has been doing the ‘pursuing & poaching’ to their key players for leaving the franchises even when they’re still in contract till 30th November. 

If the complaint is found to be true, the players- KL Rahul (PBKS) and Rashid Khan (SRH) can get banned for a year.

A senior official from BCCI has stated:

“We haven’t received any letter but we have received a verbal complaint from two franchises about players poaching by Lucknow team. We are looking into it, and we will take appropriate action if it proves to be true. We don’t want to disturb the balance. You cannot avoid such things when there is fierce competition. But it’s not fair to the existing teams when they are trying to balance everything.”

The senior BCCI official also added:

“See, it’s obviously unfair. Till November 30, the players are under our contract and we have the right to negotiate and no one else as per BCCI guidelines. Hence, it is illegal as per the IPL charter. But it is not just about the new franchises. In the past as well, many of our players were approached during the break or before an auction but this time with three first picks, it makes the job difficult for us. We can only hope that BCCI will make stricter guidelines and penalties in such instances for not just the player but also the franchise.”

As KL Rahul is likely to lead the newly inducted team Lucknow as its skipper it is being reported that he is likely to become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL with an offer of INR 20 crore by the RPSG Group. 

Until this opportunity ofKL Rahul,  Virat Kohli was the most expensive player who was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 17 crore per season. But this amount might reduce to INR 16 crore despite being the RCB’s first retention, due to the BCCI’s retention policies and guidelines if KL Rahul chooses to move from Punjab Kings to Lucknow. 

After Virat’s stepping down from the RCB’s captaincy without winning any trophy it is to be expected from KL to win and continue his good form in the cricket ahead. He has broken and made many new records hope this continues as far as it can go.