IPL 2025: KL Rahul opens up on auction, Delhi Capitals move: 'A nerve-wracking experience'
Sports, Cricket: Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants for the past three seasons, was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured him for $1 million
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul looked back on last year’s auction and shared his excitement about joining Delhi Capitals.
Rahul, who captained Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the past three seasons, was released by the franchise ahead of the auction. Delhi Capitals secured his services for $1 million (₹14 crore) after parting ways with their star wicketkeeper-batter and captain, Rishabh Pant. However, Rahul will focus solely on wicketkeeping duties as Delhi has appointed Axar Patel as their new captain.
"The auction was a nerve-wracking experience," Rahul admitted while speaking to digital broacaster Star. "As a player, not knowing where you will end up is never easy. Over the years, I have seen how unpredictable auctions can be—there’s no set pattern. As a captain, I was involved in building a team, so I understand the pressure franchises face. But as a player, it's even tougher because your career is at stake."
Rahul acknowledged that auctions could shape a player's future or bring unexpected challenges. "I was nervous, even a little anxious. But at the same time, I knew this was the right step for my career. There was excitement, though it didn’t last long because reality set in quickly. I’m really happy to join Delhi Capitals. Parth Jindal, the team’s owner, is a close friend, and we’ve had many discussions about cricket beyond the field. I know how passionate he is about the sport, and I’m thrilled to be part of this team. We have a strong squad, and I’m looking forward to the season ahead," he added.
'Delhi has an ideal mix of players'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
On the team's composition, Rahul believes Delhi has assembled a well-balanced squad with an ideal mix of experienced players and young talent.
"This is a new experience for me—joining my fourth or fifth IPL franchise. It’s both exciting and nerve-wracking. Every new team brings uncertainties—how the players will gel, how the management operates, and how the fans will react. But looking at our squad and how the management has built this team, we seem to have most areas covered," he noted.
"There’s a great mix of seasoned players and young talent. I am eager to play alongside some incredibly skilled youngsters and learn from them as well. With players like Mitchell Starc, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav—many of whom I’ve played with before—we have a solid squad. I can’t wait for the IPL to begin," the 32-year-old added.
Delhi Capitals will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign against Rahul’s former team, Lucknow Super Giants, in Visakhapatnam on March 23.
(With inputs from agencies)
