‘Dealing with owners who lack cricket experience’: KL Rahul reveals challenges of IPL captaincy - Watch

KL Rahul opens up challenges he faced as IPL captain. (Photo: X)

A captain must uphold personal performance standards while serving as the team's spokesperson, chief strategist, and on-field manager. Rahul claims that IPL leadership roles are more difficult than those in international cricket.

Rahul has played for four different teams since starting his IPL career in 2013 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He now plays for the Delhi Capitals after being acquired last year.

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His journey as captain began in 2020, and from 2022 to 2024, he led the Lucknow Super Giants for three straight seasons.

"What I found hard as a captain in the IPL was the number of meetings that you needed to do, the number of reviews that you needed to do and explain at the ownership level," Rahul told Humans of Bombay.

"I realised that at the end of IPL, I am more mentally and physically drained than playing 10 months of international cricket."

The 33-year-old cricketer emphasized the difficulties coaches and captains encounter while working with ownership groups that don't have a lot of cricket knowledge.

"Coaches, captains are constantly being asked a lot of questions," he added. "It almost, after a point feels like, you are being questioned as to 'why did you make this change? Why did he play in the XI? Why is it that the opposition got 200 and we couldn't even get 120? Why are their bowlers getting more spin?"

KL RAHUL’S DIG AT THE LSG OWNERS

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“Captaincy in IPL almost feels like you’re being questioned constantly as to why did you make this change…..why opposition scored 200 and you could only manage 120….why are their bowlers getting more spin.”

Courtesy: @HumansOfBombay pic.twitter.com/zL9w2WNhdL

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 17, 2025

Rahul is no longer the captain of the Delhi Capitals and is now a regular member of the team.