IPL 2025 Auction: Desperate for a captain, Delhi Capitals buy KL Rahul

Another key player in this auction to watch out for has been KL Rahul and several teams were in a battle to bag him. But, Delhi Capitals emerged victorious.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was sold for a price of Rs 14 crore, outdoing the previous bid of Rs 13.75 crore by Chennai Super Kings. Both, KKR and DC, were going neck and neck in a bid to get a probable skipper.

Former Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul became a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore, having been released by Lucknow Super Giants, owned by Sanjiv Goenka.


Rahul expressed his desire for a fresh start in the IPL. "I wanted to start fresh, I wanted to explore my options and I wanted to go and play where I could find some freedom, where the team atmosphere could be something lighter. Sometimes you need to move away and find something good for yourself," Rahul had said in an interview.

Despite consistent performances for Lucknow across three seasons, scoring over 1,200 runs, Rahul's captaincy and strike rate were subjects of debate. In the IPL 2024 season, he scored 520 runs in 14 matches at an average of 37.14, but his strike rate of 136.13 drew criticism.

KL Rahul's T20 career stats reflect his status as one of the most consistent and explosive batsmen in the format. Over 132 matches, he has scored an impressive 4,683 runs at an exceptional average of 45.47 and a strike rate of 134.61. His highest score, an unbeaten 132, showcases his ability to play marathon innings while maintaining a high scoring rate. With 4 centuries and 37 half-centuries to his name, Rahul is a proven match-winner in crucial situations.

Rahul's overall IPL career spans 132 matches with four different teams, including Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. He has captained both Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants but has yet to win an IPL title.