“I want…”: what K.L. said Rahul to the Delhi Capitals owner after being bought in the IPL auction

KL Rahul was one of the most successful players sold in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction as he was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for Rs 14 crore. Rahul parted ways with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after three years as their captain following which LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka told the media that he has retained only those players who put the team before personal goals. Now, after joining DC, franchise co-owner Parth Jindal has said that Rahul wants “love and respect” from his new team.

“So he (Rahul) said, ‘I just want to play cricket. I just want love and support from the franchise. I just want to get respect and I know Parth from you, I will get it. I’m just looking forward to playing for my friend and helping Delhi win. I’ve never won (IPL). Delhi has never won. Let’s do this together,” Parth Jindal told ESPNcricinfo.

Jindal said that he used to spend time with Rahul due to the fact that the latter was from Bengaluru and was the owner of Bengaluru FC himself.

“He is very happy, very happy to be a part of Delhi. He has known me for a long time. He is a guy from Bangalore (Bangalore). I own Bengaluru FC (in the Indian Super League) so he watched a few games with me. I know his wife Athiya (Shetty) very well. She was a close family friend growing up in Mumbai,” Jindal said.

Delhi Capitals have gone through their own separation from the Indian star cricketer. Rishabh Pant left the franchise nine years before the mega auction of IPL 2025. Interestingly, Pant ended up in LSG, Rahul’s former franchise.

Rahul is also expected to captain DC, although people like Axar Patel And Faf du Plessis may also be in use.