We’ve all witnessed our share of awkward breakups, but the ongoing KL Rahul fight with LSG feels more like a messy reality show reunion episode than a typical cricket parting. This time, it’s all about a social media snub that has fans crying foul (again). And yeah, you guessed it, it has everything to do with a certain someone named Rahul being “mysteriously” left out of a celebratory post.
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India recently wrapped up a thrilling five-match Test series against England. It ended in a hard-fought 2-2 draw, which might not sound like much at first glance, but considering this was a relatively new Indian squad (post-Virat, post-Rohit era), it was kind of a big deal. Players like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj stepped up big time.
A photo album for the ages 😌 pic.twitter.com/HBdn96ZtUJ
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) August 8, 2025
And guess who else stood tall, taking blows from the new ball and delivering consistent, gritty knocks? Yup, it’s KL Rahul. With 532 runs at an average of 53.2, he was India’s third-highest run scorer. But when Lucknow Super Giants hopped on X to share a glossy collage of India’s “Test Heroes,” Rahul was nowhere to be found. Not one frame. Not even a tag. Just… vanished. Naturally, fans noticed. And they were not pleased.
KL Rahul Fight with LSG：Why the Cold Shoulder?
So why would LSG ghost their former captain like that? The answer lies in the rocky history between Rahul and the franchise, a saga filled with public clashes, cold business decisions, and, of course, Sanjiv Goenka. Let’s rewind to IPL 2024. During one particularly rough match, cameras caught Sanjiv Goenka visibly scolding Rahul in front of everyone, live. It was uncomfortable to watch and clearly didn’t sit well with fans… or Rahul himself. By the end of the season, LSG released KL Rahul, ending a three-year relationship that had seen the team reach playoffs in back-to-back seasons under his captaincy.
🚨 LSG OWNER SANJEEV GOENKA. 🚨
“We wanted to retain players with the mindset to win, who would put the team winning above their personal aspirations”.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 31, 2024
Despite that record, Sanjiv Goenka and the management decided to move on. When asked why Rahul wasn’t retained, Goenka delivered a thinly veiled dig about choosing players “who put the team before personal aspirations.” Ouch. To rub salt in the wound, they splurged a record INR 27 crore on Rishabh Pant and handed him the captaincy. Spoiler alert: LSG still finished seventh. Meanwhile, Rahul was picked up by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crore, not too shabby.
Fans Aren’t Having It
But ever since LSG released KL Rahul, the franchise has gone out of its way to pretend he doesn’t exist on social media. Now, players moving between teams isn’t exactly rare, especially in the IPL, where rosters shuffle like a deck of cards every season. But when it comes to celebrating national team achievements, most franchises usually don’t hold grudges. They give credit where it’s due, even to former players. LSG, though? Not so much. The latest social media snub was the last straw for many fans. Former cricketer Dodda Ganesh didn’t mince words, calling it “embarrassing” and pointing out the irony of ignoring a batter who scored 500+ runs as an opener in English conditions.
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
Others online went even further, calling LSG’s behavior “petty,” “disgusting,” and “absolutely classless.” And remember, this isn’t the first time. LSG had pulled the same move during earlier matches in the series, praising their own current players (especially Pant and Akash Deep) while consistently ignoring Rahul’s contributions. It’s starting to feel less like an oversight and more like a statement. One that fans aren’t buying.
What We Think：Let the Man Have His Moment
Look, it’s obvious there’s bad blood between Rahul and LSG. The KL Rahul fight with LSG didn’t end quietly, and yeah, LSG released KL Rahul in a way that felt unnecessarily personal. But cricket and sports in general should rise above these squabbles. Whatever the backstage drama was, Rahul’s performance in England deserves acknowledgment.
The guy literally carried India’s top order through swinging, seaming conditions. That’s not easy. He may not be wearing an LSG jersey anymore, but that doesn’t erase what he did on the field, especially for a team he once captained with heart. Ignoring him now doesn’t just disrespect him; it disrespects cricket itself. Let’s hope the next time LSG posts a “congrats, Team India!” collage, they remember all the names that mattered, not just the ones still on their payroll.
