Kannaur Lokesh Rahul is an Indian cricketer who represents the Indian national team as a right-handed wicket-keeper batter. He plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket and for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.
Rahul made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the 2010–11 season, the same year he represented India at the 2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored 143 runs. He made his Indian Premier League debut in 2013 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. During the 2013–14 domestic season, he scored 1,033 first-class runs, becoming the second-highest scorer of the season.
In the 2014–15 Duleep Trophy final, playing for South Zone against Central Zone, Rahul scored 185 in the first innings and 130 in the second, earning the Player of the Match award. This performance led to his selection for the Indian Test squad for the Australia tour. After returning to domestic cricket, he became Karnataka’s first triple-centurion, scoring 337 runs against Uttar Pradesh. He later scored 188 in the Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu and ended the season with an average of 93.11 in nine matches.
Rahul is married to Athiya Shetty, a former Bollywood actress and the daughter of actor Suniel Shetty and entrepreneur Mana Shetty. Athiya was born on November 5, 1992, in Mumbai. She received acting training at the New York Film Academy and attended the American School of Bombay. She made her Bollywood debut in 2015 with the film Hero, earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Female Debut, and later appeared in Mubarakan and Motichoor Chaknachoor. The couple welcomed their daughter, Evaarah Vipula Rahul, on March 24, 2025.
Who are KL Rahul Parents?
KL Rahul’s parents are K. N. Lokesh and Rajeshwari. His father, K. N. Lokesh, hails from Kannanur in Magadi and is a professor and former director at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Mangalore. His mother, Rajeshwari, is a professor at Mangalore University. His father was a fan of Sunil Gavaskar and mistakenly named him Rahul, thinking it was the name of Gavaskar’s son, Rohan.
KL Rahul Father – K N Lokesh
KL Rahul father, Dr. K N Lokesh, is a respected academic from Kannanur in Magadi. He is a professor and former director of the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Mangalore. A huge admirer of Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, he named his son Rahul, mistakenly believing Gavaskar’s son was named Rahul instead of Rohan.
One of Dr. Lokesh’s students at NITK once sent him a funny email inquiring as to whether KL Rahul would be able to play in the 2021 Indian Premier League again following surgery on his appendix. The mail went viral on social media, showing how KL Rahul’s popularity even reached his father’s classroom.
KL Rahul’s Mother – Rajeshwari
KL Rahul mother, Rajeshwari, is a professor at Mangalore University. Throughout his journey, she encouraged him to balance his studies with sports and often reminded him to complete his degree, though Rahul’s busy cricket schedule never allowed him the time to do so.
KL Rahul Sister: Who Is She?
KL Bhavna is Rahul’s older sister. She has always been there for him, and the two have a very strong and affectionate relationship. Rahul even decided to skip the West Indies series in February 2022 in order to attend Bhavna’s wedding.
FAQs
Q. What is KL Rahul’s mother tongue?
A. Kannada is the mother tongue of KL Rahul.
Q. Was KL Rahul a member of the RCB?
A. KL Rahul played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013 and 2016 before playing with other IPL teams.
Q. Is KL Rahul a native of Kerala?
A. KL Rahul is not from Kerala; he is from Karnataka. He was raised in Mangalore after being born in Bangalore.
Q. What does the full name KL Rahul represent?
A. Kannaur Lokesh Rahul is the full name of A. KL Rahul.
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