IPL 2025: Why is KL Rahul not in Starting XI in DC vs LSG Match 4?

KL Rahul won't be featuring in Delhi Capitals' (DC) first encounter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday, March 24.

The two teams, in search of their maiden IPL title, will lock horns at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in front of some of the most passionate fans in the country. Both teams have new captains at the helm. Rishabh Pant will be leading LSG against his former side. Meanwhile, Axar Patel will take charge of the Capitals.

Toss Update

Axar Patel won the toss and invited Lucknow Super Giants to bat first. He refused to take any risk, pointing out that dew could play a role in the second innings. 

He also revealed that Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Starc, and Jake Fraser-McGurk are the four overseas players for DC in this clash. Meanwhile, Pant admitted that he would have also bowled first had he won the toss. The wicketkeeper-batter, however, noted that the wicket looked good and he hoped his team would be able to put up a decent score on the board. He ended by naming Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller as the four overseas players in the playing XI.

Why is KL Rahul not playing?

KL Rahul is missing the game due to "personal" reasons. Axar mentioned the same during the pre-match press conference on Sunday, March 23.

According to reports, Rahul has been granted special permission by the DC management to skip the match against LSG. The experienced campaigner joined Delhi's practice session on Saturday. On the personal front, he is expecting the birth of his first child with Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty.

What did both the captains say at the toss?

Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)

We are going to bowl first. It's the dew factor, we don't want to take any risk, that's why we are bowling first. I have played with Pant before, he knows me and I know him. We know our tricks. I have played a lot for the Capitals, we have a well balanced side. There's dew sometimes, not always. I have been with DC since three years, I have been with the leadership group. I need to work accordingly. Need to think like a leader. Faf du Plessis, Stubbs, Starc and Fraser-McGurk are our four overseas.

Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)

I wanted to bowl first but It's a good wicket so we can bat well and put up a good score. I have played for DC all my life, so a lot of emotions there. Preparations have been well, everyone is in the right shape and in the right frame of mind. Markram, Marsh, Pooran and Miller are our four overseas players.