‘I was worried and nervous, but …’, KL Rahul told the moment of the auction process
New Delhi:
KL Rahul is excited about joining Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 season. He recalled last year’s auction before the season began. Rahul captained the Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) for the last three seasons, but this time the team released them before the auction. After this, Delhi bought him for Rs 14 crore. The team released its star wicketkeeper-batsman and captain Rishabh Pant. However, Rahul will only fulfill the responsibility of wicketkeeping in this season, because Delhi has made Akshar Patel a new captain. Delhi’s team will play their first match against Rahul’s old team Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam on 23 March.
‘Know the pressure of fretty’
Rahul said about the auction on Jio Hotstar, ‘This was a stressful experience. As a player, it is difficult to know which team will buy you. I have seen for years how uncertain the auction is. I have been captain in the last three years, so I have been involved in the process of forming the team. I know how much pressure is there to choose the right team on the franchise, but it is even more difficult from the player’s perspective, because it makes your career at stake.
‘I am happy to join Delhi’
He further said, ‘The auction can decide the future of the player or put him in new challenges. I was nervous, a little worried too, but at the same time I felt that this is the right step for my career. I am happy to join Delhi Capitals. The owner of the team Parth Jindal is my close friend and we have discussed many things besides cricket. I know how obsessed he is about the game, and I am happy to be a part of this team. We have a strong team and I am excited for the season. Talking on the team combination, Rahul said that the Delhi team looks balanced. It has a good mix of experienced players and young talent.
‘Our team is strong’
He said, ‘This will be a new experience for me – joining a new team, perhaps it will be my fourth or fifth IPL team. Whenever you go to a new team, many questions come to mind how the players will be, how the owner team runs, what will be the reaction of the fans. But seeing the combination of the team, it seems that all the necessary aspects have been covered. ‘Rahul further said,’ I will get a chance to play and learn from the young players, which will be quite exciting. Fantastic players like Mitchell Starc, Akshar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are in the team. Our team is strong and I cannot wait for the IPL to start. “
