Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul took to X on Monday (March 24) to confirm the birth of a baby girl. The 32-year-old right-handed tied the knot with Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty in January 2023. Rahul, who played a big role in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 title win, missed Delhi Capitals IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam on Monday to be with his wife at the time of the birth of their first child. ?? pic.twitter.com/XK8YBVavnG — K L Rahul (@klrahul) March 24, 2025 Rahul was signed for Rs 14 crore by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025 mega auctions and was expected to make his debut on Monday but before the start of the match it was reported by Cricbuzz that Rahul will miss the team’s season opener due to personal reasons. “The Indian batter, who is expecting his first child, has received special permission from the Delhi Capitals management to skip the match against his former franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam,” the report read. “The Indian batter rushed back home to Mumbai on Sunday night upon learning that his wife, Athiya Shetty, could give birth at any moment. However, he is expected to rejoin his Delhi Capitals teammates for their second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 30,” it added. “He has returned home to be with his wife, as the baby is expected any time. However, he is certain to be available for the team’s next game,” a family friend of Rahul was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Monday. Rahul’s record in IPL Rahul has played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL so far. He has featured in 132 matches, and with the help of four centuries and 37 fifties, scored 4683 runs. He led PBKS in the IPL 2020 and 2021 seasons and also served as LSG captain for three seasons (2022-24). As an India player, Rahul has played 58 Tests, 85 ODIs and 72 T20I matches and scored 3257, 3043 and 2265 runs, respectively. He is one to the six players who has captained India in all three formats of the game.