3 Reasons Why Faf du Plessis Should Lead DC Over KL Rahul In IPL 2025

Anurag Dasgupta

Faf should lead DC over KL [Source: @Jughead47/X.Com]Faf should lead DC over KL [Source: @Jughead47/X.Com]

The Delhi Capitals has been the best team in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Unlike previous seasons, they have looked at their loopholes and have filled in the gap perfectly. Moreover, the likes of Harry Brook, KL Rahul, and Mitch Starc have all come in as steal buys which shows DC's prowess in the auction.

Despite all the big names, they also purchased an underrated player in the form of Faf du Plessis. The former RCB captain was bought for just 2 crores and he could turn out to be their best buy of the season.. Plus, he is also a brilliant captaincy material and in this piece we look at why Faf should be made DC's captain instead of potential skipper, KL Rahul.

3) Faf's captaincy CV is better than KL Rahul's

On paper, LSG had a better squad than RCB for the majority of the last 3 seasons, yet, it was the team from Bengaluru who were the better looking and promising team. Both the sides reached the playoffs twice, but it was RCB who triumphed over LSG in the 2022 Eliminator and that was partly because of Faf's brilliant captaincy.

Even last season, when RCB looked down and out for the majority of the season, Faf inspired them and the team from out of nowhere reached the playoffs. With the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Mark Wood, and so many other players, LSG should have done better than most of the teams in the league, but they couldn't.

2) Captaincy doesn't affect Faf's batting

468, 730, 438, these were Faf du Plessis' scores while captaining RCB in IPL. Captaincy pressure doesn't affect his batting at all, and interestingly, in the last two seasons, he has struck at 153, and 161, showcasing his ability to maximise the power-play. 

Comparing it to KL Rahul, who, in the last two seasons has had a strike rate of 113, and 136, and despite him scoring truckloads of runs, he has always come under the scrutiny for his slow strike-rate and the added captaincy burden has a role to play in it, as KL tends to get lost in the shuffle.

1) Allow KL Rahul to only focus on batting

KL Rahul is at his best when he is free of tension. DC acquired him for 14 crores, but they shouldn't give him captaincy burden, instead, the owners should tell KL to just concentrate on his batting and play without any burden on his shoulders.

This would get the best out of KL Rahul, who is well capable of taking the league by storm. Hence, Faf should be the one to lead the Delhi Capitals.