After Denying Captaincy, Delhi Capitals Removes KL Rahul From Opening In IPL 2025

In the last few months, KL Rahul has batted in all the positions in the top and middle order across formats in different tournaments. Whether it’s opening, middle order, or the lower middle order, Rahul has stood up on every single occasion for the team. He was neither hesitant to even don the gloves.

A player, like KL Rahul, who started his career at the top for Karnataka and made international white-ball debuts in the opening position, has become a fluid mover in the batting department for the national side.

KL Rahul’s batting position in recent Champions Trophy 2025

In the recently concluded Champions Trophy, Rahul played as the finisher in the side. During the home ODI World Cup in 2023, he was batting at number five, a position that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma gifted to Axar Patel for his left-handed batting angle.

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In the opening clash against Bangladesh in the eight-team event, KL Rahul came at number six and smashed an unbeaten 41 runs in 37 balls to shoulder them over the line with a six on the last ball of the encounter. The veteran didn’t get a chance to bat in the second clash against Pakistan, as Virat Kohli’s unbeaten century guided them over the line.

Even when India lost a few early wickets in the group-stage clash against New Zealand, the management showed faith in Axar and put Rahul at six. It became worse in the semifinal and final when Hardik Pandya came above the Bengaluru-born. But Rahul’s incredible batting in the last two games against Australia and the Blackcaps promoted them over the winning line.

KL Rahul finished the Champions Trophy 2025 with 140 runs in four innings at an average of 140 and a strike rate of 97.90, with the best score of unbeaten 42 runs.

KL Rahul to bat in the middle order for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

During the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the right-handed batter started at the opening position in the opening game at the Optus Stadium. With Rohit Sharma’s return in the second day-night encounter at the Adelaide Oval, he moved to No. 03 in the batting line-up. But when Rohit opted out of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Rahul returned as an opener.

As he turns up for the Delhi Capitals, his fifth franchise in the Indian Premier League, his batting order is yet to be confirmed. The 32-year-old will join the DC squad later this week and is likely to bat in the middle order.

Capitals are thin in experience in the middle order, especially with Harry Brook pulling out of the 2025 edition. And that could push the management to keep a veteran like KL Rahul at number four. DC can expect fiery batting from Jake Fraser McGurk at the top with the vice-captain, Faf du Plessis, with Tristan Stubbs coming at three.

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KL Rahul has batted at four only 11 times in the IPL, smashing 324 runs at an average of 46.29 and a strike rate of 130.65, shouldering on two half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 68 runs.

Delhi Capitals to open IPL 2025 campaign on March 24

Delhi Capitals will begin their campaign of the 2025 season of the 20-over tournament on March 24 in Visakhapatnam, where KL Rahul will have extra motivation to do well against the Lucknow Supergiants.

Extending their stay at home, the Capitals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their second encounter of the league.