KL Rahul will not play in the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) opening match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Monday, March 24.
In front of some of the nation’s most ardent supporters, the two teams, each vying for their first IPL championship, will square off at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. The captains of both teams have been replaced. LSG will be led by Rishabh Pant against his old team. Axar Patel will lead the Capitals in the interim.
Update on Toss
After winning the toss, Axar Patel asked the Lucknow Super Giants to bat first. Dew might be a factor in the second innings, he said, refusing to take any chances.
Additionally, he disclosed that DC’s four international players in this matchup are Faf du Plessis, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Starc, and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Pant said that if he had won the toss, he would have bowled first as well. Nonetheless, the batsman-wicketkeeper commented that the wicket appeared to be in good condition and expressed his hope that his team would be able to score a respectable amount. Finally, he announced that the four foreign players in the playing XI were David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram.
KL Rahul isn’t playing; why?
KL Rahul will not be playing because of “personal” reasons. During the Sunday, March 23 pre-game news conference, Axar made reference to the same thing.
KL Rahul has reportedly received special clearance from DC management to miss the game against LSG. On Saturday, the seasoned campaigner participated in Delhi’s practice. In terms of his personal life, he and Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty are expecting their first kid.
At the toss, what were the words of both captains?
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.
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