Former RCB manager opens up on not retaining KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2018 mega auction

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru manager Avinash Vaidya has opened up on the franchise’s decision to part ways with KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2018 mega auction. Rahul was brought by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the auction for a whopping amount of 11 crores.

Vaidya revealed he had a discussion with Rahul when he was traveling to South Africa regarding his retention/release. In the end, RCB decided to release Rahul ahead of the auction.

Ultimately, RCB retained AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan for a total value of INR 31 crores.

Vaidya said in an interview with Cricket.com, “It was this (very) close. I remember he (KL Rahul) was on a flight. That Indian team was traveling to South Africa, and we were chatting in parts because there was a negotiation that was going on.

“In between his flight from here to Dubai, I had some news for him. So, during the stay of over about two hours in Dubai, we were able to talk. Unfortunately, that was the last day, and by the time he landed in South Africa, we were able to somehow not…probably it was not meant to be.”

Meanwhile, Rahul was part of the RCB squad in 2013 but later joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2014 auction. However, Rahul was not getting a lot of opportunities at the Orange Army and Vaidya revealed he played a small role in convincing the SRH’s think tank to release him ahead of IPL 2016 auction.

The former RCB manager added, “Even though KL ended up in SRH, but I can tell you with confirmation that I think I played a bit of a role in trying to get him back to RCB. It was a small role, but it is a large-hearted effort of VVS Laxman, Muttiah Muralitharan, and the owners of SRH and the CEO.

“They were quite convinced of the fact that KL was on the benches most of the time, so I had to request them and try and see if they can release him,” he concluded.

Rahul has scored 5222 runs in 145 IPL matches at an average of 46.21 and a strike rate of 136.03, and he is currently part of Delhi Capitals.