KL Rahul, the prominent batter for Delhi Capitals, may be absent for the initial two matches of IPL 2025 as he and his wife, Athiya Shetty, prepare to welcome their first child. This announcement comes shortly after the team's successful Champions Trophy campaign earlier this month, where Rahul played a crucial role in India's ODI and Test teams.

Alyssa Healy, the captain of the Australian women's team and wife of Mitchell Starc—who recently joined the Capitals—indicated that Rahul's participation in the first two games is uncertain. She shared this insight while previewing the franchise on the YouTube channel LiSTNR Sport.

“No Harry Brook, so it will be intriguing to see who they choose as a replacement player. KL Rahul is likely to miss the first couple of games as they await the arrival of their child, which adds an interesting dynamic,” Healy remarked.

“They possess strength in their younger players, but having KL Rahul, who can anchor the innings in T20 cricket, will be thrilling to watch.”

The Capitals secured Rahul for INR 12 crore during the IPL 2025 auction after he was released by the Lucknow Super Giants. In a notable turn of events, Rishabh Pant, who previously captained the Capitals and began his career with the franchise, transferred to LSG for a record fee of INR 27 crore.

The two teams are set to face off in their season opener on March 24, but it appears that Rahul may not be available for the match in Visakhapatnam.

Axar leading Delhi

Following Rahul's acquisition, there was considerable speculation regarding the captaincy of the Delhi Capitals, with him being a top candidate to replace the departing Pant. Ultimately, the franchise appointed Axar, who has been with the team since 2019, as the captain for the upcoming season.

Faf du Plessis, another recent addition to the Capitals, has been named vice-captain after a three-year tenure as captain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

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