New Delhi: Star India cricketer KL Rahul recently opened up about the intense pressure players experience while leading a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), claiming that the stress in the tournament surpasses even that of international cricket. The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had a contentious tenure with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which saw him engage in a heated on-field argument with owner Sanjiv Goenka in 2024 following a heavy loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rahul eventually parted ways with LSG after the 2024 season.
In an interview with Jatin Sapru for Humans for Bombay, Rahul shared that IPL captains face relentless pressure and are frequently scrutinized by individuals who have little knowledge of the game.
KL Rahul opened up about the relentless pressure IPL captains face
“What I found hard as a captain in the IPL was the number of meetings and reviews required, and having to explain decisions at the ownership level. I realised that by the end of the IPL, I was more mentally and physically drained than after playing 10 months of international cricket,” Rahul said.
“Coaches and captains are constantly asked a lot of questions. After a point, it feels like you’re being interrogated-‘Why did you make this change? Why did he play in the XI? Why did the opposition score 200 while we couldn’t even get 120? Why are their bowlers getting more spin?’” he added.
Rahul mentioned that coaches and selectors have a deeper understanding of the game
Rahul added that this level of scrutiny is absent in international cricket, as coaches and selectors have a deeper understanding of the game’s nuances.
“These are questions we never get asked throughout the year because the coaches know what’s going on. You’re only answerable to coaches and selectors, who have all played cricket and understand the game,” he said.
“No matter what you do, no matter how many boxes you tick, nothing in sport guarantees victory. That’s hard to explain to people from a non-sporting background,” he added.
After leading LSG for three seasons, Rahul left the franchise as was purchased by Delhi Capitals in the 2025 mega auction for Rs 14 crore but he did not take the captaincy role at DC, which was headed by all-rounder Axar Patel. Following an impressive season, Rahul was retained by DC ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.