Axar Patel and Delhi Capitals in darkness over KL Rahul's availability for IPL 2025

KL Rahul's participation in Delhi Capitals' IPL 2025 opener against Lucknow Super Giants remains uncertain despite joining the squad a couple of days back. With the DC vs PBKS match set to take place in Visakhapatnam on Monday (March 24), the team management is still unsure whether KL Rahul will be in the playing XI.

Earlier, DC head coach Hemang Badani refused to comment on KL Rahul's batting position and said that the fans will have to wait until game day to see if the right-handed batter takes the field against Lucknow Super Giants at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

Axar Patel unsure about KL Rahul’s availability for IPL 2025 opener

Now, ahead of their IPL 2025 opener, Delhi Capitals' newly appointed captain, Axar Patel, admitted that there is still no clarity about KL Rahul's availability for the LSG encounter on Monday due to the Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s reasons.

Axar Patel was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo: “Obviously, he (KL Rahul) joined the team. We don't know yet [if he'll play]. Right now, we don't know if he is available or not.”

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As Sunrisers Hyderabad nearly broke their record of the highest IPL team total of 287 last season, with a massive 286-run total against Rajasthan Royals in the last IPL 2025 match, Axar believes that the Delhi Capitals team must adapt to stay competitive in the tournament.

Axar Patel stresses smart execution as IPL batting records soar

The DC skipper further explained, “Nowadays cricket has changed a lot. Mostly IPL is more about the batsman's game, fours, and sixes. So, we have to evolve as a team. At the end of the day, I don't want to complicate things. As captain, I told the group that cricket is a game; keep it simple.

A good yorker is a good yorker ball, and if your execution is good, then you will be fine. So, I am not telling them too much that you should go for this and that. I am just asking them to keep it simple; that's my strategy throughout the tournament.”

Axar believes that DC must stay ahead of the game rather than just reacting to situations while insisting that “cricket has evolved too much.” He emphasized the importance of adapting strategies, whether with the ball or in overall gameplay.

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Axar Patel opens up about DC's planning

Learning from last season, the star Indian all-rounder feels flexibility is key to keeping up with the fast-evolving nature of T20 cricket. Axar further explained, “We learn from the last season; I said that cricket has evolved too much. You can't be chasing the game.

It's not like in the powerplay we have to swing the ball or we have to bowl-length balls. We can even start from two or three slower balls. So, it's not any particular plan for any batsman. We have to change the plan according to the situation, which I learned from the last season.”

Notably, the Delhi-based franchise is yet to lift the trophy despite playing IPL for the last 17 years, but Axar is confident that they can change the result in the ongoing 2025 season, given the strength and experience of the squad.