Indian cricketer KL Rahul and his wife, actress Athiya Shetty, have become parents to a baby girl. The couple announced the happy news on Instagram on Monday night with a cute post.
Rahul, who represents Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 season, skipped his team's match against Lucknow Super Giants to be present with his wife during the birth of their child.
The moment the news was announced, congratulatory messages began pouring in from Bollywood stars, such as Shanaya Kapoor and Krishna Shroff, who wished the new parents their best.
Before the Delhi Capitals vs. Lucknow Super Giants match, DC captain Axar Patel spoke to the media, saying, "Obviously, KL has joined the team. We do not know yet [whether he will feature]. At present, we do not know whether he is available or not."
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty had announced their pregnancy in November 2024.
KL Rahul's Journey to Delhi Capitals
Rahul found himself at the focal point of a heated auction battle between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. Delhi Capitals later jumped in and picked him up for an eye-watering ₹14 crore, taking him as an opener, skipper, and wicketkeeper-batter alternative.
Resplendent Performances Before IPL 2025
Rahul comes into the IPL 2025 season off a great spell with Team India, having played a key role in helping India win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Asked to play the No. 6 slot to offer balance in the middle order as Axar Patel played at No. 5, Rahul performed under pressure. In the last match against New Zealand, he made a calm knock of 34* off 33 balls in a pressure situation to lead India to the championship. In five games during the tournament, he scored 140 runs in four innings at a high average of 140.00 and a strike rate of 97.90, with a top score of 42*.
Rahul's IPL Legacy
Standing at the 12th-highest run-getter in IPL history, KL Rahul has scored 4,683 runs in 132 games at a batting average of 45.46 and a strike rate of 134.60. His career in the IPL boasts four centuries and 37 half-centuries, with a highest score of 132*. Having played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the past, he has not yet won the prized IPL trophy.
As KL Rahul starts this new journey of fatherhood, the fans will be waiting to know when he is back in action for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025.
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