Rahul is expected to rejoin the squad for their next game on March 30 © AFP KL Rahul, the Delhi Capitals’ new recruit, will miss the team’s season opener on Monday 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 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. “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,” said a family friend of Rahul. Rahul has been in excellent form recently and was one of India’s standout performers in their Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai. However, he has not been part of India’s T20I squad and, during the tournament in Dubai, he stated that his goal is to reclaim his place in the T20I lineup. Before joining the Delhi Capitals camp in Visakhapatnam, Rahul trained in Mumbai under Abhishek Nayar, India’s assistant coach, for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Rahul was bought by the Delhi management for INR 12 crore in the mega auction after he parted with LSG, a franchise he led for the past three seasons.
