"If Only We Kept Hold Of...": AB de Villiers' Take on KL Rahul’s Potential RCB Return
He also mentioned Yuzvendra Chahal, another former RCB player who is back in the auction pool, saying it would have been ideal to retain him as well.
KL Rahul’s release ahead of the IPL 2025 auction has sparked speculation about his potential return to his former team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) decided to retain Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, and pacer Mohsin Khan, letting go of prominent players like Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, and Deepak Hooda.
With rumors swirling about RCB’s interest in Rahul, former RCB star AB de Villiers shared his thoughts on the situation. Responding to a fan query, de Villiers remarked, “If only we kept hold of KL Rahul, we wouldn’t have had to buy him back in the auction.” He also mentioned Yuzvendra Chahal, another former RCB player who is back in the auction pool, saying it would have been ideal to retain him as well.
De Villiers didn’t stop at Rahul, suggesting that Kagiso Rabada would be a great addition to RCB. "Rabada would be nice at RCB; that would be very cool," he commented, highlighting the South African pacer’s current form as the world’s number one Test bowler and his potential to deliver an outstanding IPL season. De Villiers speculated that Rabada might go for a lower price than expected, given his mixed performance in the last IPL season.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings’ new coach, Ricky Ponting, also weighed in on the unexpected player releases, expressing surprise over the availability of players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer. "Certain franchises seem to be aiming for a change in direction," Ponting noted, emphasizing the excitement surrounding these high-profile players in the auction.
With teams gearing up for a competitive auction, Rahul’s availability has generated excitement, especially among RCB fans who would welcome his return.
