Rahul, who led LSG into the playoffs in their first two seasons, in 2022 and 2023, but failed to continue the momentum in the last season, even though he finished as their highest run-getter with 520 runs at a strike rate of 136.12.
“Ranchi mein har bacche ko keeper banna hai (Every kid wants to become a keeper in Ranchi). The demand for wicket-keeping equipment (gloves, pads) has constantly been on the rise ever since Dhoni went on to play for India and has picked pace yet again,” remarked Yadav who has been running the business for decades now.
Having toured New Zealand in November last year under Ajinkya Rahane-led India A for two first-class games, Vihari is aware of the conditions.
971 players, including 258 overseas stars are all set to go under the hammer this year.
The auction is set to be conducted in The City of Joy for the first time.
Caribbean players Sunil Narine and Andre Russel were also retained by Kolkata.
Aiming to fill up the available 70 spots are 200 capped players, 800 uncapped and three players from Associate Nations.
Gautam Gambhir had his homecoming when Delhi Daredevils'' bought him for Rs. 2.80 crore.
Clarke took it Twitter and wrote that, "I did nothing mate apart from smile every time I watched him bowl."
Akash even went on saying, if they would have lost Pollard, things would have gotten difficult for the Mumbai-based franchise.
