Indian national team cricketer KL Rahul and Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty have been blessed with a baby girl. The couple shared the joyful news on Instagram on Monday evening, prompting an outpouring of congratulatory messages from Bollywood celebrities, including Shanaya Kapoor and Krishna Shroff.
KL Rahul missed Monday’s IPL 2025 match between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, where he plays for DC, to be present for the birth of his child.
Ahead of the match, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel addressed Rahul’s absence during a press conference, stating, “KL has joined the team, but we’re unsure about his availability for the game.”
A New Chapter for KL Rahul
Rahul and Athiya had announced their pregnancy in November 2024.
The star batter has been a key acquisition for Delhi Capitals, joining the franchise for ₹14 crore after an intense bidding war involving Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Rahul, who serves as an opener, captain, and wicketkeeper-batter, brings significant experience to DC.
He enters IPL 2025 with strong momentum, having played a pivotal role in India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory. During the tournament, he was slotted at No. 6 in the batting order to provide depth, with Axar Patel taking the No. 5 spot. In the final against New Zealand, Rahul delivered a crucial 34* off 33 balls in a tense situation, contributing to India's title win. Across five matches, he amassed 140 runs at an impressive average of 140.00 and a strike rate of 97.90, with a top score of 42*.
Rahul’s IPL Legacy
As the 12th-highest run-scorer in IPL history, Rahul has accumulated 4,683 runs in 132 matches at an average of 45.46 and a strike rate of 134.60. His IPL record includes four centuries and 37 half-centuries, with a highest score of 132*. Having previously played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he is still in pursuit of his maiden IPL trophy.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
