Bad News for DC Fans! KL Rahul Likely to Miss First Two Matches of IPL 2025

With the IPL 2025 scheduled to commence on March 22, KL Rahul is expected to miss the opening fixtures for the Delhi Capitals. The Indian wicket-keeper batter recently took part in the Champions Trophy 2025 and helped his team win in the final on Sunday against New Zealand in Dubai.

According to News18, he is expecting his first baby with wife Athiya Shetty in the summer of 2025. The couple, who married in 2023, announced their first pregnancy on November 8, 2024. He is expected to miss one or two fixtures for Delhi on the due date.

Rahul scored 140 runs during India's triumphant Champions Trophy 2025 campaign and was their clutch performer. He also embraced the finisher role with ease, putting an end to criticism that he wasn’t suited for the position. Across four innings, he remained unbeaten in three, underscoring his significance to the team. In the semi-finals, he scored 42* against Australia, and followed that with an unbeaten 34*-run knock against New Zealand in the final.

He was let go by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025, and was acquired by DC for ₹14 crores during the auction, from a starting price of ₹2 crores.

He was DC's priciest buy in the IPL 2025 auction. Delhi also secured the likes of Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma and Faf du Plessis. According to reports, Rahul is also expected to assume the role of DC's new captain after they released Rishabh Pant. Pant has been acquired by Rahul's former team, LSG.

Harry Brook Opts Out of IPL 2025, Set to Miss Second Consecutive Season

According to a report in PTI on Monday, Delhi Capitals will hold a brief training-cum-simulation camp in Delhi before heading to Visakhapatnam for their opening two matches. Axar, Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs, Australian Jake Fraser McGurk, and Mitchell Starc are scheduled to converge in Visakhapatnam on March 17 and 18.

England batter Harry Brook, who was signed for Rs 4 crore by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auction, is set to miss the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league. The former SRH star took to X on Sunday to declare his decision to skip the tournament for the second consecutive year.