IPL 2026: KKR Keen on Acquiring KL Rahul from DC – Who Will Replace Him?

KL Rahul, the star wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi Capitals, might be seen playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. As per a report by the Times of India, KKR is interested in bringing him in through a trade. The franchise is even thinking about making him their captain.

KKR Targets KL Rahul for Captain and Wicketkeeper Role in IPL 2026

KKR is keen on acquiring the services of Rahul via trade ahead of IPL 2026. If the deal is secured, it could be a win-win for the Knight Riders and a much-needed boost for the team. Rahul could serve a dual role as a captain and as a keeper for KKR.

🚨 KKR KEEN TO GET KL Rahul. 🚨

- KKR are looking to have KL on board via trade deal. (Gaurav Gupta). pic.twitter.com/HfwVtvjTQR

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 31, 2025

After letting go of Shreyas Iyer before the big auction, the team chose Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain. He was picked up for Rs 1.50 crore. Despite the change, the three-time IPL champions had a tough season, finishing 8th in the standings with only 5 wins out of 14 matches. At present, KKR do not have an Indian wicketkeeper in their squad. Neither Quinton de Kock nor Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the two keepers on the side, lived up to their expectations in IPL 2025.

Rahul could be a great pick for the KKR team since he can not only bat well but also keep wickets and even lead the side if needed. Though he didn’t keep wickets for DC in IPL 2025, he has plenty of experience wearing the gloves and knows the role well. It's still unclear whether DC would even consider trading Rahul, after all, he was their top scorer last season.

Who will replace KL Rahul if the trade happens?

During the IPL 2025 auction, KKR spent a massive ₹23.75 crore to buy Venkatesh Iyer. But by the end of the tournament, the decision turned out to be one of their biggest mistakes of the season. Now, there's talk that KKR might offer Iyer in a deal to bring KL Rahul into their team. Interestingly, Rahul was picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore in the same auction.

Apart from this, the two teams could also settle on an all-cash deal. KKR might buy KL for a set amount of money, but to make that happen, the 2024 champions would need to let go of a few players to make room for the Indian batter.

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