Explained: Why KL Rahul Is Not Playing Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2025 Match Against Lucknow Super Giants
KL Rahul is not playing for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants, which is currently underway at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Delhi Capitals are taking on Lucknow Super Giants in match No. 4 of IPL 2025 on Monday (March 24). In the match which is currently underway at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, DC captain Axar Patel has won the toss and opted to field first. In the first match of the 2025 season of IPL for Delhi Capitals, KL Rahul is not playing.
The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Bengaluru, who was signed for Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, is not part of Delhi Capitals’ playing XI nor is part of the impact sub list.
related stories
It has been reported by Cricbuzz that Rahul is missing the team’s season opener due to personal reasons.
“The Indian batter, who is expecting his first child, has received special permission from the Delhi Capitals management to skip the match against his former franchise."
According to the available information Rahul rushed back home to Mumbai on Sunday night upon learning that his wife, Athiya Shetty, could give birth at any moment. However, he is expected to rejoin his Delhi Capitals teammates for their second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 30.
“He has returned home to be with his wife, as the baby is expected any time. However, he is certain to be available for the team’s next game," a family friend of Rahul told Cricbuzz.
Rahul, who has played for RCB, SRH and Punjab Kings in the IPL as well, was part of the LSG set-up in the IPL last year. He led the franchise in the IPL 2024 and finished as the leading run scorer as well, but despite that, he was not retained by the franchise.
In the IPL 2025 mega auction, LSG signed Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore. Pant was part of Delhi Capitals in the IPL from 2016 to 2024, but despite being the all-time leading run scorer and most capped player for the franchise, he was not retained by the franchise.
Pant, who is the most expensive player in IPL history ever, is leading LSG in the IPL 2025 match on Monday. He was appointed as the team’s captain in January. Pant is the fourth player after Rahul, Krunal Pandya and Nicholas Pooran to lead the Lucknow-based franchise.
Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals: Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel (WK), Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Mukesh Kumar
Lucknow Super Giants: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), David Miller, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi
- Location :
- First Published: