Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul is expected to miss a couple of matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season for Delhi Capitals, as he is anticipating the birth of his first child in the summer of 2025. Reports suggest that the 32-year-old right-hander will take time off to be with his wife, with his absence depending on the exact due date.
Rahul, who was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has been a consistent performer in the league over the years. Having previously played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he has amassed 4,683 runs in 132 IPL matches, including four centuries and 37 half-centuries.
Despite finishing as LSG’s leading run-scorer in IPL 2024, Rahul was not retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. His departure came as a shock to many fans and analysts. Now with Delhi Capitals, he is also a frontrunner to take over the captaincy role, with the franchise expected to announce its new leader in the coming days.
Delhi’s captaincy slot became vacant after Rishabh Pant, who led the team in IPL 2024, was not retained. Instead, Lucknow Super Giants secured Pant’s services for a record-breaking ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. LSG has already confirmed Pant as their new captain for the 2025 season.
Before the tournament begins, Delhi Capitals will hold a short training and simulation camp in Delhi before moving to Visakhapatnam, where they will play their first two matches. Key players, including Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Mitchell Starc, are expected to join the camp on March 17 and 18.
In a separate development, England batter Harry Brook has pulled out of IPL 2025. Brook, who was signed for ₹4 crore by Delhi Capitals in the mega auction, announced his decision on social media, marking his second consecutive absence from the tournament.
As the IPL 2025 season approaches, Delhi Capitals will be keen to finalize their captaincy and strategize around potential absences, including Rahul’s temporary leave.
