KL Rahul is poised to embark on a new chapter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he joins the Delhi Capitals for the 2025 season. Following his significant contribution to India's triumph in the 2025 Champions Trophy, Rahul is stepping into uncharted territory, transitioning from his established position as both captain and opener in the IPL.

The Delhi franchise acquired Rahul for INR 14 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction after he was released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). His three-year tenure with LSG was characterized by fluctuating performances and ongoing criticism regarding his strike rate. As reported by the Times of India, the Capitals have decided to adopt a different strategy, positioning the 32-year-old in a middle-order role.

The report indicates that the batting order for DC will include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, and Abhishek Porel at the top, while Rahul will be placed further down the lineup to add stability and experience.

This strategic move appears to have been significantly influenced by Harry Brook's withdrawal from the tournament, creating a need for a reliable middle-order presence for DC.

“Following Harry Brook's decision to exit the league, DC sought a right-handed batsman for the middle order, and Rahul is an ideal fit,” the report noted.

Rahul in a new role

This season signifies the first occasion since 2019 that Rahul will not be at the helm of an IPL franchise. After leading the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2020 and 2021, followed by a three-year tenure as captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he now finds himself without a leadership position at Delhi Capitals (DC).

The franchise has appointed Axar Patel as the captain, with Faf du Plessis taking on the role of vice-captain. Reports indicate that Rahul was presented with the opportunity to lead but opted to decline, preferring to concentrate solely on his batting duties.

While Rahul's experience as a middle-order batsman in the IPL is somewhat limited, it is not entirely absent. During his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2016, he played a pivotal role in the middle order, contributing to the team's advancement to the final. Over his IPL career, Rahul has participated in 33 matches outside of the opening position, accumulating 500 runs at an average of 29.41 and a strike rate of 117.92.

The most recent occasion he batted outside the top two, aside from an injury-induced appearance at No. 11 in 2023, was in 2016.

In addition to his IPL journey, Rahul has been adapting to various batting positions across different formats. In ODIs, he was moved down to No. 6 prior to the Champions Trophy, while in Tests, he has alternated between the opening and middle order in recent series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.

Rahul's IPL statistics are impressive, with a total of 4,683 runs in 123 innings, averaging 45.46 and maintaining a strike rate of 134.60. He is one of only two players, alongside Virat Kohli, to have surpassed 600 runs in a single season on four occasions.

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