KL Rahul is gearing up for a fresh challenge in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) with Delhi Capitals, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory. After a successful Champions Trophy campaign with Team India, KL Rahul finds himself in unfamiliar territory, not just moving away from the captaincy role he has held in the IPL but also stepping down from his long-established position as an opener.
Delhi Capitals secured KL Rahul for INR 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction following his release from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). His three-year tenure with LSG was marred by inconsistent performances and scrutiny over his strike rate, leading to his eventual departure. According to reports, Delhi Capitals have decided to utilize KL Rahul differently, placing him in the middle order rather than at the top of the batting lineup. The decision is reportedly influenced by the withdrawal of England’s Harry Brook from the tournament, which left the team seeking a reliable right-handed batter to anchor the middle order.
Delhi Capitals’ batting order is expected to feature Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, and Abhishek Porel as the top three, with KL Rahul providing stability in the middle. This will be the first time since 2019 that KL Rahul will not be leading an IPL team, having previously captained Punjab Kings in 2020 and 2021 and LSG from 2022 to 2024. While reports suggest that Delhi Capitals offered him the leadership role, KL Rahul declined, preferring to focus solely on his batting responsibilities. The franchise has instead named Axar Patel as captain and Faf du Plessis as vice-captain.
KL Rahul’s experience in the middle order is limited in the IPL but not entirely new. During his 2016 stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he played a crucial role in the middle order as the team reached the final. Over his IPL career, KL Rahul has played 33 matches outside the opening slot, accumulating 500 runs at an average of 29.41 and a strike rate of 117.92. Apart from a brief injury-forced stint at No. 11 in 2023, the last time he batted outside the top two in IPL was in 2016.
Beyond IPL, KL Rahul has adapted to various batting positions across formats. In ODIs, he was pushed down to No. 6 ahead of the Champions Trophy, and in Tests, he has shuffled between opening and the middle order in recent series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia. His overall IPL record remains impressive, with 4,683 runs in 123 innings at an average of 45.46 and a strike rate of 134.60. Notably, he is one of only two players, alongside Virat Kohli, to have scored over 600 runs in a single season four times.
As the IPL 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on how KL Rahul adapts to his new role and whether this strategic shift by Delhi Capitals proves to be a masterstroke for both the franchise and the player himself.
