IPL Captains Reveal Intense Pressure: "Mentally and Physically Drained"

According to the news report, Indian cricketer KL Rahul has opened up about the immense pressure and stress that comes with captaining a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Rahul, who had a controversial stint as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise, stated that the level of scrutiny and questioning from owners and fans is far greater in the IPL compared to international cricket.

Rahul revealed that by the end of the IPL season, he was "more mentally and physically drained" than after playing 10 months of international cricket. He explained that coaches and captains in the IPL are constantly asked a barrage of questions about their decisions, such as team selection and strategy, which they rarely face in international cricket where the coaches and selectors have a better understanding of the game.

The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batter had a particularly challenging time as LSG captain, which included an on-field heated argument with the team's owner, Sanjiv Goenka, following a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2024. Ultimately, Rahul parted ways with LSG after the 2024 IPL season.

Rahul's comments shed light on the immense pressure and scrutiny that IPL captains face, often from people with limited understanding of the sport. Despite their best efforts, he emphasized that victory in cricket is never guaranteed, and that is a difficult concept to explain to non-sporting stakeholders.