KL Rahul’s New Chapter: From Opener to Middle-Order Maestro in IPL 2025
A Fresh Start for KL Rahul
KL Rahul, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, is set to embark on a new journey in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). After a stellar performance in India’s victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, Rahul finds himself in unfamiliar territory. No longer the captain or the opener, he is now a key middle-order batter for the Delhi Capitals (DC).
The Big Move
Delhi Capitals secured Rahul for a whopping INR 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction after his release from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). His three-year stint with LSG was a mix of highs and lows, with scrutiny over his strike rate. Now, DC has decided to slot the 32-year-old into a middle-order role, a shift from his traditional opening position.
Why the Change?
The decision to move Rahul down the order was influenced by Harry Brook’s unexpected withdrawal from the tournament. DC needed a reliable right-handed batter in the middle order, and Rahul fit the bill perfectly.
The team’s top order will now feature Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, and Abhishek Porel, with Rahul providing stability and experience lower down.
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A New Role, New Challenges
This season marks the first time since 2019 that Rahul will not be leading an IPL franchise. After captaining Punjab Kings and LSG, he now focuses solely on his batting.
The franchise has entrusted Axar Patel as captain, with Faf du Plessis as vice-captain. Reports suggest Rahul was offered the leadership role but chose to concentrate on his batting.
Rahul’s Middle-Order Journey
Rahul’s journey in the middle order has been limited but shows promise. During his time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2016, he played a key role in the middle order, contributing significantly as the team reached the final.
Throughout his IPL career, Rahul has batted outside the opening slot in 33 matches. In these games, he has scored 500 runs with an average of 29.41 and a strike rate of 117.92.
Beyond the IPL, Rahul has been adjusting to different batting positions across formats. In ODIs, the team management pushed him down to No. 6 ahead of the Champions Trophy. In Test cricket, he has alternated between opening and middle-order roles in recent series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.
A Stellar IPL Record
Rahul’s IPL record is outstanding. He has scored 4,683 runs in 123 innings, maintaining an average of 45.46 and a strike rate of 134.60. He is one of only two players, alongside Virat Kohli, to have scored over 600 runs in a single season four times.
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