Following Retirement Speculation, KL Rahul Shares His 'Major Announcement'
Indian cricket star KL Rahul recently ignited a flurry of speculation across social media with a cryptic message on Instagram. "I have an announcement to make, stay tuned..." he posted, sparking rumors that he might be retiring from international cricket, especially after losing his spot in India's T20 squad. These rumors quickly spread as fans and followers began debating his future in the sport. However, Rahul put all the retirement talks to rest with his latest Instagram update, revealing that he and his wife, Athiya Shetty, had actually organized an auction aimed at improving the lives of several underprivileged children.
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty managed to raise an impressive sum of Rs 1.93 crore through their auction, which featured a range of memorabilia from current and former cricketers.
The highest bid went to a jersey belonging to Virat Kohli, which fetched Rs 40 lakh. Additionally, a pair of Kohli's gloves became the second-highest selling item, bringing in Rs 28 lakh.
Bats owned by some of India's most iconic captains also contributed significantly to the auction's success. Rohit Sharma's bat garnered Rs 24 lakh, while MS Dhoni's bat raised Rs 13 lakh, and Rahul Dravid's bat brought in Rs 11 lakh.
KL Rahul was notably absent from India's squad during the 2024 T20 World Cup. After India, led by Rohit Sharma, secured the trophy by defeating South Africa in the final, seasoned players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja all declared their retirements. This sparked concerns among fans, wondering if Rahul would also step away from the game.
Speculation has also surrounded Rahul’s role as captain of his IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants. Many fans and analysts believe the franchise may consider replacing him and seek new leadership during the upcoming mega auction. Could Rahul be preparing to reveal news about his IPL future?
KL Rahul is set to return to action in the upcoming Duleep Trophy, where he will represent the India 'A' squad. Under the captaincy of Shubman Gill, Rahul will be joined by a strong lineup that includes players such as Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan. Fans are eager to see Rahul perform alongside these promising talents in this prestigious tournament.
KL Rahul faces stiff competition from Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel for a place in the Indian squad. Although Pant is expected to take up the wicket-keeping duties, Rahul still has a strong chance to secure a spot in the playing XI as a specialist batsman, even without donning the gloves.
