Why is KL Rahul not playing today for DC vs LSG

Delhi Capitals batter KL Rahul was ruled out of the team’s IPL 2025 opener against the Lucknow Super Giants played at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
The 32-year-old Rahul had joined the squad on match eve but will be unavailable for selection. According to reports, Rahul has flown back home to be with his wife, Athiya Shetty, as the couple are expecting their first child.
FOLLOW LIVE: DC vs LSG IPL 2025 LIVE SCORE
Rahul was released Lucknow Super Giants before the IPL 2025 Mega Auction last November and later signed up Delhi for Rs 12 crore, 12 years after his first IPL stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013. The in-form Rahul, an integral figure in India’s recent Champions Trophy win in Dubai, could be absent from Delhi’s campaign opener against his former franchise Lucknow in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
Story continues below this ad

Earlier, Alyssa Healy, wife of Rahul’s new Delhi teammate Mitchell Starc, had told the wicketkeeper-batter could miss a couple of games at the start of the season. While previewing the DC franchise on YouTube channel LNR Sport, Healy revealed that: “No Harry Brook, (so) it will be interesting to see who the replacement player will be. They have KL Rahul, who will probably not play the first couple of games I think… they are awaiting the birth of (their) child, but that dynamic, is really cool.”
“They have that power in the young guys but they also have a KL Rahul who can stitch the innings in T20 cricket. He’s going to be really exciting to watch,” Healy added.
Having let go of India wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, Delhi have rejigged their leadership positions for the season with all-rounder Axar Patel taking over as captain and Faf du Plessis named his deputy.
After the Lucknow fixture, the Capitals will face SunRisers Hyderabad at the same venue on March 30.
MORE TO FOLLOW