KL Rahul for Delhi Capitals (Source: AP)
In a significant development, star Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul went unsold in the Maharaja T20 League auction despite performing well in IPL 2026.
KL Rahul was one of the standout performers of IPL 2026 and played a crucial role for Delhi Capitals throughout the season. The stylish player scored 593 runs in 14 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 174.41 and average of 45.61.
KL Rahul's IPL 2026 Performance
KL Rahul's IPL 2026 season marked a significant transformation in his batting approach. Often labelled as an anchor in previous years, he adopted a far more aggressive style in his batting this year.
His performances helped him finish as Delhi Capitals’ highest run-scorer and seventh overall in the Orange Cap standings.
One of the best performances of Rahul in IPL 2026 was against the Punjab Kings. The star player smashed an unbeaten 152 off just 67 deliveries. With this historic knock, he became the first Indian batter to score more than 150 runs in a single IPL innings.
Rahul also achieved another major milestone during the tournament. He became the first player in IPL history to score more than 1,000 runs for three different franchises (PBKS, LSG and DC).
KL Rahul Went Unsold In The Maharaja T20 League Auction
Despite his impressive IPL form, KL Rahul did not attract any bids in the Maharaja T20 League auction. One of the most likely reasons behind this is his potential unavailability for the tournament due to India’s upcoming series against Afghanistan.
India will host Afghanistan in June 2026 for a single Test and three ODIs. Rahul has been named vice-captain of India’s Test squad and is expected to play an important role during the series.
The schedule of the Afghanistan tour overlaps with the start of the Maharaja T20 League. The final ODI of the series is scheduled to be played on June 20, the same day the tournament begins.
Also Read: From KL Rahul To Axar Patel: Delhi Capitals Player Ratings For IPL 2026
Workload management could have been another important factor. Rahul has just completed a demanding IPL season and will immediately move to international cricket.
With limited recovery time available, teams may have considered his availability a risk. The auctioneer at the Maharaja T20 League reportedly stated that KL Rahul may not be available for the tournament.
Watch the video below:
What Is The Maharaja T20 League And When Will It Start?
The Maharaja Trophy T20, formerly known as the Karnataka Premier League (KPL), is Karnataka’s premier T20 tournament. The 2026 season will be the fifth edition of the competition and will feature six franchises.
The tournament will begin on June 20 with a match between Kalyani Bengaluru Blasters and Gulbarga Mystics. A new franchise, Coastal Kings Mangaluru, will make its debut on June 21 against Hubli Tigers.
Matches will be played across Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru. The Mysuru leg will run from June 20 to June 26, followed by Hubballi from June 27 to July 3. The final phase will be held in Bengaluru from July 5 to July 12.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Confirms No.3 For India's One-Off Test vs Afghanistan
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