Indian cricketer KL Rahul has made startling revelations about the immense pressure and challenges faced by captains in the Indian Premier League, stating that leadership in the world's richest cricket tournament is more exhausting than international cricket.
The Mental Drain of IPL Leadership
In a candid conversation with Humans of Bombay, the 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter opened up about his experiences leading franchises, particularly his three-season stint with Lucknow Super Giants from 2022 to 2024. Rahul highlighted that the constant need to justify decisions to team owners who come from non-sporting backgrounds creates unique mental challenges.
"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 revealed. The stylish right-hander emphasized that this constant scrutiny takes a significant toll on captains and coaches alike.
Ownership Scrutiny: The Unseen Pressure
Rahul pointed out that both captains and coaches face relentless questioning from franchise owners and management, many of whom haven't played cricket at an elite level. This creates communication gaps that are difficult to bridge, especially when explaining technical aspects of the game.
"Coaches, captains are constantly being asked a lot of questions. 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?'" Rahul elaborated about the typical line of questioning.
The cricketer, who began his IPL journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013 and now represents Delhi Capitals, stressed that this environment makes IPL leadership particularly demanding compared to international cricket.
Comparing IPL and International Cricket Demands
Rahul made a striking comparison between the mental exhaustion of IPL captaincy versus international cricket responsibilities. "I realised that at the end of IPL, I am more mentally and physically drained than playing 10 months of international cricket," he confessed.
This revelation is particularly significant given Rahul's extensive experience in both formats. The versatile player, who first captained in IPL in 2020, has represented India across all three formats while managing the additional pressure of franchise leadership.
Currently playing for Delhi Capitals as a regular player without captaincy duties, Rahul's insights shed light on the behind-the-scenes challenges that IPL skippers face - challenges that often go unnoticed by fans but significantly impact team dynamics and individual performance.
