Delhi Capitals' (DC) star wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has dispelled rumors suggesting he would miss the initial two matches in the IPL 2025 season. Speculations were rife in the lead-up to the tournament, which kicked off on March 22, with the match between RCB and KKR. Even Alyssa Healy, in a video, said that KL Rahul might miss the first two matches of the IPL 2025 as the veteran batter and his wife Athiya Shetty are expecting their first baby. However, KL Rahul has ended all speculations around missing the first few matches as he joined the DC squad ahead of their campaign opener and was also seen practicing with the Delhi squad.
KL Rahul joins DC camp ahead of DC's IPL 2025 campaign opener
DC had acquired Rahul for Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction following his release by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). DC are scheduled to begin their IPL 2025 campaign against LSG on March 24 in Visakhapatnam. Their subsequent match will be against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 30, also at the same venue.
Contrary to speculation about his potential absence from the DC initial IPL 2025 matches, Rahul has arrived in Visakhapatnam to join his team. His arrival precedes their upcoming game against his former franchise, LSG. Further confirming his presence, the Delhi Capitals themselves hinted at Rahul joining the team ahead of their tournament opener.
A widely circulated video shows Rahul disembarking from a bus at the Vizag airport, dressed in a black shirt, black jeans, and a bean cap. Moreover, another viral post depicted him at the team hotel in Visakhapatnam. With his physical presence in Vizag, which almost confirms his availability for Delhi Capitals from the very start of the IPL 2025 season. He was also seen practicing with the DC players in a video.
KL Rahul aura hits differently! ❤️🥵🔥 pic.twitter.com/JuWIvG1wdS
After the departure of Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel has assumed DC's captaincy role, signaling a fresh start for the franchise. The absence of Rishabh Pant from the squad presents new challenges, but the team has strategically reinforced its lineup by acquiring the experienced Rahul during the mega-auction.
While Axar Patel steps into the captain's role, Faf du Plessis will serve as his deputy, providing valuable support. The coaching staff comprises Hemang Badani as head coach, Venugopal Rao as Director of Cricket, Munaf Patel as bowling coach, Matthew Mott as assistant coach, Kevin Pietersen as mentor, and Vijay Bharadwaj as head talent scout. This blend of experienced and new personnel reflects the team's determination to forge a successful path forward.
DC's IPL 2025 schedule:
DC vs LSG, March 24 - Vishakhapatnam
DC vs SRH, March 30 - Vishakhapatnam
CSK vs DC, April 5 - Chennai
RCB vs DC, April 10 - Bengaluru
DC vs MI, April 13 - Delhi
DC vs RR, April 16 - Delhi
GT vs DC, April 19 - Ahmedabad
LSG vs DC, April 22 - Lucknow
DC vs RCB, April 27 - Delhi
DC vs KKR, April 29 - Delhi
SRH vs DC, May 5 - Hyderabad
PBKS vs DC, May 8 - Dharamsala
DC vs GT, May 11 - Delhi
MI vs DC, May 15 - Mumbai
DC's IPL 2025 squad:
Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Jake Fraser-McGurk, T. Natarajan, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.