Delhi Capitals opener KL Rahul has opened up on how becoming a father has reshaped his outlook, boosting his calmness and sharpening his hunger to enjoy the game. Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’, Rahul described fatherhood as a life-changing chapter—one that has brought him both emotional fulfilment and a new way of approaching cricket.
Key takeaways
- Rahul said fatherhood has given him a renewed sense of joy and mental balance, changing how he defines happiness.
- He explained that seeing his daughter smile and sharing affectionate moments helps him forget injuries and worries.
- Rahul revealed that since becoming a father he worries less about cricket, making matches feel exciting again.
- He described a major evolution from being labelled a Test specialist to developing his white-ball game and earning success in T20.
- The Delhi Capitals batter also stressed staying even-keeled through wins and losses while continuing to chase trophies.
Fatherhood as a mindset shift for KL Rahul
Rahul began by calling fatherhood “the most beautiful thing” in his life. He admitted that while he used to believe he already had calmness and happiness, he only truly understood peace and joy after holding his baby. The batter said the current phase has been something he is fully enjoying, even though it is difficult to leave his daughter behind when cricket demands his attention.
Rahul married Bollywood actress Athiya Shetty in January 2023. The couple welcomed their daughter, Evaarah, in early 2025. Reflecting on parenthood, Rahul shared that he initially thought things would feel easier as the child grew, but his experience has been the opposite—he described it as becoming more demanding as she begins to run around and attempt to communicate.
He also spoke about the practical challenge of balancing his schedule with family life. Rahul said his daughter has travelled for some games, and he added that in an ideal world he would like to play, return home to spend time with her, and then step out again—though he acknowledged that this is not always possible.
How being a father has affected his cricket
Rahul, who has played a significant role for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 season, said fatherhood has delivered immense happiness while helping him place the stresses of professional sport into perspective. He noted that returning to the field feels even more meaningful, and that simple moments with his daughter can erase concerns from his mind.
He further explained that the emotional lift from those family interactions has helped him over the last year. Rahul said that when he sees her smile and receives hugs and kisses, everything else—pain, worries, and even injuries—gets forgotten.
In addition, Rahul described a change in the way he thinks during matches. He said he no longer overthinks the game, calling it something that has made cricket enjoyable again. Rahul added that when he is on the field for those four or five hours, he feels fully switched on—he goes out to enjoy the contest and focus on doing his best.
Breaking the ‘Test player’ tag and staying balanced
Rahul also addressed his journey away from an image that once limited expectations of his role in shorter formats. He said that about 10 years ago, he would have done almost anything to be part of a T20 team. Rahul claimed he was rarely viewed as a genuine T20 player or even regarded as a strong white-ball performer, instead being branded primarily as a Test cricketer.
He said he is proud of the progress he has made in reshaping his white-ball game and reaching where he is today. Rahul acknowledged that he has made mistakes along the way and believes there were areas where he could have done better, but he underlined that his pride comes from giving his best every time he has played and preparing as well as possible to maximise his chances of success.
To wrap up, Rahul spoke about handling the nature of sport, where outcomes do not always go your way. He said he has tried to take challenges in his stride and enjoy the journey, adding that he stays balanced whether his team wins or loses. When he feels low about what he has not achieved, Rahul said he reminds himself of what he does have, which helps him gain perspective. He concluded by saying he still believes he has time left and will keep working hard while aiming to see how many trophies he can win.
