KL Rahul commands massive fee as India batsman confirmed as Lucknow captain

Rahul joins Lucknow alongside Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis and compatriot Ravi Bishnoi

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KL Rahul has been confirmed as the captain of the new Lucknow franchise, and is set to become the joint highest paid player in Indian Premier League history.

Rahul has commanded a fee of 17 crore (around £1.7million) to lead his new side, local media report, putting him on a par with Virat Kohli's 2018 deal at Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

The Indian international batsman joins Lucknow alongside Australian allrounder Marcus Stoinis and compatriot Ravi Bishnoi.

"I'll try to do my best for the people of Lucknow and try to play a brand of cricket that entertains everybody," Rahul said.

Stoinis has cost the new team - which is owned by the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group - 9.2 crore (£890,000), with Bishnoi priced at 4 crore (£369,000).

The two new franchises - based in Lucknow and Ahmedabad - were given special dispensation to sign three players each ahead of the IPL mega auction, which is scheduled for February 12 and 13 in Bangalore.

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Hardik Pandya will captain Ahmedabad in the 2022 Indian Premier League

Ahmedabad have brought in Hardik Pandya as captain, while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and India batsman Shubman Gill complete their marquee picks.

Ahmedabad, who have also recruited Vikram Solanki as director of cricket from English county side Surrey, will enter the auction with a purse of 52 crore (£5.16m), while Lucknow will have 59.89 crore (£5.9m) to spend.

The full Indian Premier League auction longlist was sent to franchises on Friday, with a total of 1,214 players putting themselves forward.

This list will be trimmed prior to the event in Bangalore, following feedback from the 10 teams.

A maximum of 217 players, including 70 overseas stars, can be recruited during the auction.

The 2022 IPL season is due to begin in late March, with the final set to take place in late May. 

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