KL Rahul delivered strong performances in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and received fan support following a surprising post from his former franchise, LSG.
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KL Rahul’s Key Role in India’s Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Success Overshadowed by LSG’s Social Media Snub
India’s strong showing in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was significantly bolstered by KL Rahul’s resilience at the top of the order. Battling the moving ball in challenging English conditions, Rahul amassed 532 runs at an impressive average of 53.20—the highest for any opener on either side and third overall behind Shubman Gill and Joe Root. His composed starts were crucial in helping India secure a rare 2-2 series draw away from home.
However, despite Rahul’s vital on-field contributions, a social media post by his former IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), sparked disappointment among fans. The LSG celebrated India’s best moments from the tour with a collage featuring stars like Gill, vice-captain Rishabh Pant, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and pacers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep—both Pant and Akash being LSG players. Notably absent from the tribute was Rahul, whose pivotal performances in the series were hard to overlook.
A photo album for the ages 😌 pic.twitter.com/HBdn96ZtUJ
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) August 8, 2025
The omission of KL Rahul from Lucknow Super Giants’ celebratory post was impossible to ignore. Rahul had been more than consistent—facing the new ball in tough conditions and delivering match-defining scores. His absence felt less like a mistake and more like a deliberate exclusion, which didn’t sit well with fans or former India pacer Dodda Ganesh.
This is getting embarrassing. Couldn’t get a picture of an opener who played the new ball and scored 500+ runs 🤷♂️ https://t.co/fGhFFuOWi3
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) August 8, 2025
The fans, too, were equally furious at Rahul’s absence.
532 runs at 53.2 while opening the batting. Surely adults can sort egos out in a much better way. https://t.co/7wrXhLZ0Z1
— Vignesh Bharadwaj (@VBharadwaj31) August 8, 2025
The history behind the fallout
The tension stems from KL Rahul’s exit from Lucknow Super Giants before the IPL 2025 auction. Rahul had been LSG’s inaugural captain, leading the franchise to playoff finishes in 2022 and 2023. However, questions about his relationship with the team management surfaced, especially following a public on-field argument with owner Sanjiv Goenka during the 2024 season. After that season, Rahul was released and subsequently bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crore, while Rishabh Pant, signed for a record INR 27 crore, assumed LSG’s captaincy.
The leadership change failed to improve LSG’s results, as the team finished seventh for the second consecutive year, with Pant’s batting struggling until the final group match. Meanwhile, Rahul’s Delhi Capitals started well but faltered late, ending the season in fifth place.
