Indian cricketer KL Rahul is again making the headlines even before the commencement of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he rejected the Delhi Capital’s captaincy role. KL Rahul Said NO to Captaincy of Delhi in IPL 2025 after being asked for the captaincy in this season of IPL for DC. “It is all about his batting now, and he has decided not to play as a captain and to the pressure of captaincy for the time being.
Now this may pave the way for Axar Patel to take over the captaincy of Delhi Capitals. If Axar becomes the captain, this will be the first time in his entire career at IPL that he will lead a side as a captain.
Table of Contents
KL Rahul Said NO to Captaincy of Delhi in IPL 2025
There may be many reasons behind KL Rahul’s rejection of Delhi’s captaincy role. KL Rahul is in touch with Sunil Shetty (his father-in-law). This decision might have been motivated by Sunil Shetty, too, because even Sunil knows how to succeed without greed and by staying down-to-earth.
KL Rahul also knows what is essential for him and his cricketing future. He must have decided it for his betterment and, more importantly, for the betterment of Indian Cricket.
🚨 KL RAHUL DECLINES DELHI CAPITALS CAPTAINCY OFFER 🚨
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 11, 2025
– Delhi Capitals had asked for KL Rahul to be the team's Captain but KL Rahul very much wishes to contribute for the side as a player. (IANS). pic.twitter.com/BTOlAb414N
After India’s agonising defeat against Australia in the ICC World Cup 2023 final, questions were raised over KL Rahul’s sluggish innings of 66 runs off 107 deliveries. Still, he impressed those who doubted him by putting in match-winning performances in the semi-final and final, helping India to a title that had been eluding them for 12 years, winning the Champions Trophy 2025.
Amazed by his comeback and form, Delhi Capitals roped in KL Rahul as captain of the side for IPL 2025. The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman declined the offer, saying he wanted to play solely without any pressure of captaincy and to focus on his batting.
Salary of KL Rahul in IPL 2025: INR 14 Crores
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) released former captain KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Delhi Capitals bought him at INR 14 crore, well ahead of his base price of INR 2 crore. The franchise signed up a few high-profile names, such as Mitchell Starc (INR 11.75 crore), T Natarajan (INR 10.75 crore), and Harry Brook for INR 6.25 crore. However, Harry Brook has opted out from the IPL 2025, citing national commitments, and now the franchise would have only a few days to finalise Brook’s replacement before the start of the tournament.
However, it is also true that DC had bought KL Rahul by looking at him as a potential next captain of Delhi Capitals, but now, as KL doesn’t want to become the captain, it is another big blow for the DC after Harry Brook’s pull-off.
KL Rahul IPL Captaincy Record
His captaincy record in the IPL is 31-31 with 64 matches. He’s also been a leader beyond the IPL, captaining the Indian national sides across forms. He has been phenomenal at some stages of his captaincy in the IPL, showcasing his potential to lead a team towards big victories from difficult situations while captaining Lucknow’s side in the previous edition of the IPL.
KL Rahul To Miss First Few Games Due To Personal Obligations
Indian cricketer KL Rahul and his wife Athina Shetty reportedly expect their first child in Summer 2025. The couple revealed their pregnancy on November 8, 2024, and because of this, Rahul might miss out on the initial few matches of IPL 2025 and spend quality time with his family during this special occasion. This is completely acceptable for any franchise as it is equally important to give time to your family.
Also Read: IPL 2025 – Squad of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Top 15 Players
Axar Patel Might be Delhi Capitals’ New Captain
Sources indicate, however, that with KL Rahul having vacated the captaincy duties, Axar Patel is the strong candidate to lead the team. Although they have not yet made an official announcement, the all-rounder, with a wealth of experience, appears to be the franchise’s first choice.
Bapu the all-rounder 🔥@vickykaushal09, here's your competition 😂😎 pic.twitter.com/3mmfkNqzi6
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) July 9, 2024
Axar Patel’s IPL Career Stats:
| Statistic | Numbers |
| Matches Played | 150 |
| Runs Scored | 1,653 |
| Strike Rate | 131 |
| Wickets Taken | 123 |
| Economy Rate | 7.28 |
Delhi Capitals Preparing for IPL 2025
With KL Rahul stepping back from the captaincy offer and Axar Patel expected to lead the DC, the team will bring in another experienced player as a new captain in IPL 2025 for DC. While the team is grappling with setbacks such as Harry Brook’s absence, it is still one of the most formidable squads in the tournament.
You can watch this video by Akash Chopra, the Former Indian Cricketer; he has covered important aspects of the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2025.