KL Rahul to leave Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026? Fresh reports claim this franchise's desire to sign veteran

KL Rahul has slowly started to cement his place in the national side in the ODI and Test formats. The right-handed batter, featuring for the Delhi Capitals in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was in excellent touch. He smashed 539 runs in 13 innings at an average of nearly 54 and a strike rate of around 150, scoring three half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 112 runs. 

The IPL 2026 trade season has already gained momentum as the franchises look to get their wish. Among the rumors, it has been reported that the three-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, are keen to get Rahul in the next edition of the tournament.

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The trade window is currently open and will remain active for nearly a week before the start of the next auction. The TOI journalist has revealed that the Knight Riders are interested in bringing Rahul on board. The Karnataka batter can contribute to the team as a top-order wicket-keeper and captain, an individual for whom they struggled immensely last year.

Kolkata Knight Riders wish to sign KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2026 auction- reports

It has been revealed that the Knight Riders are so keen to bring Rahul into the squad that they are ready even to leave out the veteran pace bowling all-rounder from the West Indies, Andre Russell, for the new season. That displays the value that a veteran brings to the table in the IPL.

Since the start of the 2018 season of the IPL, the 33-year-old has crossed the 550-run mark in every single season apart from 2023, when he was ruled out for most of the season due to injury, having notched up 274 runs in nine innings at an average of 34.75 and a strike rate of 113.22 with two fifties.

If Rahul comes into the KKR side, that means they may leave out Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the next season. They will also look to leave a few more players before the mini auction to get a huge chunk of the purse back in the bank.