Not RCB Or MI! KL Rahul Names Two IPL Teams Whose 'Calm Dressing Room' Gives Players 'Best Chance To Perform'

With anticipation around which Indian Premier League (IPL) team will sign KL Rahul in the upcoming 2025 Mega Auction scheduled to take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, the 32-year-old old star batter named two teams whose dressing room atmosphere has impressed him over the years. Explaining the decision to leave Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rahul opened up on his desire to play for a team where he gets freedom and a lighter atmosphere. The ex-Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper cited Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as two teams, whose calm dressing room has allowed players to prosper. "I just felt, I wanted to start fresh and explore my options. I wanted to go and play where I could find freedom and the team atmosphere would be lighter. The pressure is already high in the IPL, but you see teams like Gujarat and CSK, and you see when they win or lose, they seem really balanced, and the dressing room is really calm. That is something very important for me as a player. I feel if that happens, it gives the players the best chance to perform," said Rahul to Star Sports. Ever since Rahul was released and his name was confirmed to go under the hammer in the mega auction, the Indian batter has strongly linked with a move to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a team he played for in 2013 and 2016. Rahul addressed the rumours and did not hide his desire for a homecoming. "Bangalore is home. People there know me as a local Kannada boy. It will be nice to go there and get an opportunity. But it is an auction year, you can go anywhere," said Rahul. Rahul was also all praise for Rohit Sharma and hailed him for the culture he has created in the Indian dressing room. He also hailed Rohit for Mumbai Indians' success. "People do not know what happens inside the dressing room. The last 2-3 years I have been part of the Indian dressing room has so much clarity and calmness among players. There has been lot of friendship, we are like a family. The coaches are like your older brother. If teams could recreate that kind of environment, they will find themselves in a good position. I have watched Rohit over the years with Mumbai Indians. They have a created a brilliant culture. You can see it when they play on the field. They play as a unit. They are really fierce and well prepared. That is what you expect from Rohit Sharma.," Rahul added.