KL Rahul shares auction experience ahead of IPL 2025
What's the story
Indian cricket stalwart KL Rahul is ready for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
The wicketkeeper-batter was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹14 crore.
He had parted ways with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who released him after IPL 2024.
Speaking to JioHotstar's 'Superstars,' Rahul opened up about the auction process and its unpredictability.
"The auction was a nerve-wracking experience," he stated.
Here's more.
Auction anxiety
Rahul reflects on the unpredictability of IPL auctions
Describing the auction as a "nerve-wracking experience," Rahul emphasized the uncertainty players deal with when they don't know what their future with a team holds.
He said, "As a player, not knowing which team you will end up with is never easy. Over the years, I've seen how unpredictable auctions can be—there's no fixed pattern to how things unfold."
The seasoned cricketer also admitted to understanding the team-building pressure as a captain for three seasons.
New chapter
Rahul expresses excitement about joining Delhi Capitals
Despite the difficulties of the auction process, Rahul was thrilled to join Delhi Capitals.
He said, "But at the same time, I knew this was the right step for my career. There was excitement too...I'm really happy to be joining Delhi Capitals."
Rahul's bond with owner Parth Jindal makes his new role in IPL 2025 even more exciting.
"Parth Jindal, the team's owner, is a close friend, and we have spent a lot of time outside of cricket," he added.
New experiences
Rahul shares his thoughts on joining a new franchise
Joining a new franchise isn't easy on the mind, as Rahul explained.
"This will be a new experience for me - joining a new franchise, possibly my fourth or fifth team in the IPL," he said.
Although he feels both excited and nervous about this transition, he admitted that these mixed emotions are a part of stepping into a new team environment.
Team dynamics
Rahul praises Delhi Capitals's squad composition
Rahul praised Delhi Capitals' well-balanced squad, highlighting a blend of experience and young talent.
He expressed excitement about playing alongside skilled youngsters and learning from them.
He also emphasized the team's strength, mentioning players like Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, many of whom he has played with before.
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.