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K.L. Rahul, Hardik Pandya to lead new IPL teams

The Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises announced their draft picks

Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul [File] Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul | Instagram

The two new teams that will join the Indian Premier League this year have revealed their picks ahead of the mega auction to be held next month.

Hardik Pandya will captain the Ahmedabad franchise and K.L. Rahul the Lucknow team, the two franchises confirmed on Friday.

The CVC-owned Ahmedabad have picked Hardik and Afghanistan star spinner Rashid Khan for Rs 15 crore each while shelling out Rs 7 crore for batter Shubman Gill, their director of cricket Vikram Solanki announced on Star Sports.

The RPSG group owned Lucknow franchise signed Rahul for Rs 17 crore, Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for Rs 9.2 crore and uncapped leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 4 crore.

Rahul's signing fee makes him the joint-highest-paid player in the IPL with Virat Kohli.

With these signings, Lucknow will enter the auction with a purse of Rs 59.89 crore, Ahmedabad has Rs 52 crore.

The new teams were allowed to pick three players who were not retained by the eight existing teams.

They will make the rest of their squad at the mega auction scheduled in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

- With inputs from PTI

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