IPL 2025: KL Rahul joins Delhi Capitals’ camp, availability in season opener not confirmed yet

KL Rahul has joined the Delhi Capitals’ (DC)camp ahead of the team’s first match in IPL 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam on Monday, March 24. However, there is uncertainty regarding his availability for the clash. 

Capitals' skipper Axar Patel confirmed that Rahul might not feature in the team's first match of the season due to personal reasons, which may be linked to the Karnataka batter's presence with family as him and wife Athiya Shetty are expecting their first child soon.

"Obviously, he joined the team. We don't know yet [if he'll play]. Right now we don't know if he is available or not," Axar said of Rahul's availability during the pre-match press conference.

Cricket enthusiasts have been waiting to see KL Rahul playing against his former side, especially after all the speculation that popped up before and after the association ended. DC's new head coach Hemang Badani did not spill the beans regarding Rahul's batting position and said people will have to "wait and watch" until Monday, when DC square off against the LSG.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) re-introduced the use of saliva in IPL 2025. The move was wholeheartedly welcomed by both Badani and Axar. Badani said the rules were in the "right direction" to bring "back the balance between bat and ball". Axar also lauded the new rule of introducing a second new ball in the second innings of matches to counter the dew factor.

"The IPL is all about the batsmen nowadays. So if we get something for the bowlers, it's very nice to see. Now we can allow the saliva and if something is there for the bowlers, it's great for the game also and for the bowlers, they can find that reverse swing at the end," Axar said.

"Also in most of the venues in the IPL, the dew factor is there. So if after 10th over the fresh ball [option] is there, they are good rules and it's very good for the bowlers. They have something to execute and they might find it easier [to stop the runs]," the captain added.