Rahul captained the LSG franchise for 3 seasons since their inception in 2022. The India batter would lead them to the play-offs in the 2022 and 2023 season, where they would ultimately fall in the Eliminator match. Lucknow would decide to have a change in direction during the retention and Rahul was ultimately let go, as the franchise decided to retain Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni ahead of the auction. During the auction in Jeddah, Lucknow decided not to bid for Rahul at all as it was KKR and RCB going at it at first. However, DC and CSK would takeover after the bidding reached the 12 Crore mark. which is seen as a bargain. Rahul would now write a message to the franchise and thank the coaching staff, his teammates and the fans. The India batter also thanked them for their trust, memories and unwavering support during the past 3 seasons. "Grateful to the coaches, teammates and the fans who made this journey with LSG unforgettable. Thank you for the trust, memories, energy and unwavering support. Here's to new beginnings!" said Rahul. IPL 2025: Sold and unsold players