KL Rahul eager yet anxious for debut season with DC
What's the story
KL Rahul has expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness about his upcoming season with Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
The star Indian batter joined DC for ₹14 crore, marking his fifth IPL team after Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Supergiants.
This new chapter will be an exhilarating experience for him as he joins a new franchise.
"This will be a new experience for me," he shared in an interaction with JioHotstar.
New beginnings
Rahul's thoughts on joining Delhi Capitals
Speaking about his move to the Delhi-based franchise, Rahul said, "This will be a new experience for me—joining a new franchise, possibly my fourth or fifth team in the IPL."
"Every time you step into a new team environment, a lot of thoughts cross your mind—how the players will be, how the owners run the team, how the fans will respond—all of that."
"So, it's a mix of emotions," he added.
Team dynamics
Rahul praises Delhi Capitals's squad for IPL 2025
Rahul has praised the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2025, calling it "a well-balanced side with most areas covered."
He highlighted the team's blend of experience and young talent.
The star batter expressed excitement about playing alongside rising stars and learning from them.
"It's a great combination of experienced players and young talent," he further added.
He also mentioned key teammates like Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav as part of a strong squad.
Absence
Rahul to miss initial matches due to personal reasons
Reports indicate that KL Rahul could be unavailable for one or two matches in the initial phase of IPL 2025.
The tournament starts on March 22, with Rahul likely to miss one or two games due to personal commitments.
He is expecting his first child with his wife Athiya Shetty, who is due for their first child in mid-2025.
IPL numbers
Rahul's IPL numbers at a glance
Across 132 IPL matches, the wicketkeeper batter has amassed 4,683 runs at an average of 45.47.
He also owns a strike rate of 134.61 alongside four hundreds and 37 fifties and a high score of 132*.
Meanwhile, in his last season with LSG in 2024, he amassed 520 runs in 14 matches at an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.13.
He also smashed four fifties.
Captaincy
KL Rahul declines Delhi Capitals captaincy: Report
Rahul has reportedly rejected the chance to lead the Delhi Capitals in the 2025 IPL season.
The franchise had initially eyed him for the role, but he wanted to concentrate on his batting alone, as per an IANS report.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Axar Patel is now the front-runner to lead the Capitals in the impending season.
Although the latter doesn't have IPL captaincy experience, Axar's long association with the franchise makes him a strong candidate.