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'Aa le chak main aa gaya': Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals record special 'cradle the baby' video message to KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty after 1-wicket win over LSG

IPL 2025: Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals were without the services of KL Rahul who was with his newborn baby girl and wife Athiya Shetty.

Sports Tak

• Tue • 25 Mar 2025

Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel, Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs congratulate KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty who welcomed a baby girl.

Highlights:

KL Rahul missed Delhi Capitals' first game as he and Athiya Shetty welcomed a baby girl.

Rahul was Delhi Capitals' most expensive buy at the auction.

Rahul may join the squad ahead of their clash against SRH on March 30.

On March 25, KL Rahul did not make his Delhi Capitals (DC) debut as Axar Patel-led side opened their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a thrilling one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Rahul, who had earlier joined the DC camp, was with his wife and Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty as they welcomed a baby girl. After the match, DC's head coach Hemang Badani asked all the players to congratulate Rahul with 'cradle the baby' celebration and everyone obliged.

The video with caption 'Our Family extends, our family celebrates (heart emojis)' posted by DC for Rahul and Athiya has been widely shared on social media. Axar was leading the celebration as he said, 'Aa le chak main aa gaya'.

'Lads, this means so much to us (hearts emoji) thanks a million,' Rahul replied on the Instagram post.

DC's next clash, Rahul's likely return

DC have a long break ahead of their second match of the season. They will go up against Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on March 30. Rahul may join DC for their second clash of the season.

The last time Rahul went up against SRH was when he was LSG captain. LSG lost the match by 10 wickets as SRH chased down the target of 166 within 10 overs.

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Rahul's batting position

Rahul is not officially in the leadership group this time. He was DC's most expensive buy at the IPL 2025 mega auction at Rs 14 crore. He is unlikely to open the innings as DC have Jake Fraser-McGurk and vice-captain Faf du Plessis at the top. It will be interesting to see whether he replaced Abishek Porel as wicketkeeper-batter and the no.3 batter. There is also an option of having him at no.4 instead of Sameer Rizvi.

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Rahul's batting record against SRH

Rahul has a decent record against SRH, scoring 457 runs from 13 innings at an average of 38.08. He has four half-centuries against them. His strike rate against them is below par at 121.22.

Rahul's recent form

However, Rahul has been in stellar form of late. He was given the finisher role in the India's ODI team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 where he excelled. He showed the attacking instinct on tough Dubai conditions which favoured the spinners.