A cricketer who scores a century on Test debut, later marries a Bollywood star, and then becomes a startup investor — that’s the arc of Kannaur Lokesh Rahul, better known as KL Rahul. This profile cuts through the internet noise to give you the verified facts on his salary, his family life, and the professional moves that have shaped one of Indian cricket’s most watched careers.
Full name: Kannaur Lokesh Rahul ·
Born: Karnataka, India ·
Role: Right-hand batter, wicket-keeper ·
IPL teams played for: 5 ·
Instagram followers: 24 million ·
Honour: India Cricketer of the Year (ICC)
Quick snapshot
- Full name: Kannaur Lokesh Rahul (BCCI official profile)
- Born in Karnataka, India (BCCI official profile)
- Role: Right-hand batter / wicket-keeper (BCCI official profile)
- Married to Athiya Shetty (IPL.com)
- Has a child (IPL.com)
- Father-in-law Suniel Shetty spoke about Athiya’s strength after a C-section (IPL.com)
- Income from IPL contracts (IPL.com) and endorsements (Outlook Business)
- Owns a startup portfolio (IPL.com)
- Exact monthly salary not publicly disclosed (IPL.com)
Eight key facts about KL Rahul, drawn from official records:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kannaur Lokesh Rahul |
| Date of birth | 1992-04-18 (BCCI) |
| Height | Not provided in official records |
| Batting style | Right-hand |
| Bowling style | Right-arm medium (occasional) |
| IPL teams played for | 5 |
| Instagram followers | 24 million |
| Spouse | Athiya Shetty |
What is the monthly salary of KL Rahul?
A precise monthly salary figure for KL Rahul is not published by the Board of Control for Cricket in India or any official employer. However, several reliable streams let us triangulate his earnings.
On top of that, Lifestyle Asia (premium lifestyle publication) reports his annual BCCI retainer at INR 5 crore. Add endorsement deals — Outlook Business (business and finance magazine) names Puma, Red Bull, boAt, Zenovit, and BharatPe among his brand roster — and his pre-tax monthly income likely sits somewhere north of INR 2 crore. But the exact number? Not on any public pay stub.
What is KL Rahul’s net worth?
The Financial Express (Indian business daily) estimates his net worth at approximately INR 101 crore. This aligns with a range cited by IPL.com, which reports media estimates between INR 90 crore and INR 101 crore.
- IPL salary 2025 (Delhi Capitals): INR 14 crore auction price; IPL.com lists INR 17 crore.
- BCCI annual retainer: INR 5 crore per year.
- Endorsements: Puma, Red Bull, boAt, BharatPe, Realme, Beardo, and more.
What is KL Rahul full form?
KL Rahul stands for Kannaur Lokesh Rahul. The BCCI lists the full name on its official player page. The “Kannaur” refers to his family name. The “Lokesh” is his father’s name, a naming convention common in South Indian families.
Is KL Rahul a Malayali?
No. Despite the name “Rahul” being common across India, KL Rahul was born and raised in Karnataka. His father, Lokesh, is a professor at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka in Mangalore. Rahul played all his junior and senior domestic cricket for Karnataka.
How old is KL Rahul?
According to the BCCI, KL Rahul was born on 18 April 1992. He is 33 years old as of 2025.
Does KL Rahul have a kid?
Yes. KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty have a child. The couple announced the birth through their social media channels. While the exact birth date and child’s name have not been released publicly, the news was widely reported across Indian entertainment and sports media.
How did KL Rahul meet his wife?
KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty, a Bollywood actress and daughter of veteran actor Suniel Shetty, met through mutual friends. They were married in a private ceremony at Suniel Shetty’s farmhouse in Khandala in 2023. The couple has been together since, with Rahul often crediting Athiya for balancing his high-pressure cricket life.
Did Athiya Shetty have a C-section?
In an interview with News18 (major Indian news network), Suniel Shetty, Athiya’s father, spoke about the couple’s experience after the birth, mentioning Athiya’s strength following a C-section delivery. He did not provide further medical details. This is a private family matter, and the family has chosen to keep most details of the child’s arrival out of the public eye.
Did KL Rahul hit 150 in IPL?
Yes — and it is a record. In the 2020 Indian Premier League, KL Rahul scored 132 not out off 69 balls for Punjab Kings against Royal Challengers Bangalore. At the time, it was the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in IPL history. Later, in an ODI against West Indies in 2019, he scored an unbeaten 150, cementing his reputation as a white-ball powerhouse. No Indian had previously crossed 150 in an ODI innings with that strike rate.
Which IPL teams has KL Rahul played for?
KL Rahul has played for five IPL franchises. His trajectory across teams tells its own story about how franchises value him:
| Team | Seasons | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2013–2016 | Opening batter, occasional wicket-keeper |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2017 | Middle-order batter |
| Punjab Kings | 2018–2021 | Captain, opener, wicket-keeper |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 2022–2024 | Captain, opener |
| Delhi Capitals | 2025–present | Opener, wicket-keeper (auctioned for INR 14 crore) |
Sources: Wikipedia (community-sourced database), Ascores (sports statistics platform), Financial Express (Indian business daily).
What are KL Rahul’s career stats?
As of 2025, his international career numbers tell a story of white-ball might and Test inconsistency:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 50 | 2,865 | 34.09 | 8 | 15 |
| ODI | 79 | 2,839 | 44.78 | 7 | 15 |
| T20I | 71 | 2,265 | 37.75 | 2 | 18 |
Sources: IPL.com (official league website), BCCI (government-affiliated cricket board).
What businesses does KL Rahul own?
KL Rahul has built a startup portfolio that goes far beyond celebrity endorsements. He has invested in multiple Indian startups across fitness, wellness, and tech. Specific ventures include an equity stake in a popular fitness chain and a seed-stage investment in a direct-to-consumer health brand. Unstop (platform covering startup ecosystems) has detailed his investments in their founder profiles.
dnaindia.com, indiaherald.com, timesnownews.com, msn.com, tring.co.in
Frequently asked questions
What is KL Rahul’s role in the Indian cricket team?
He is a right-hand opening batter and a wicket-keeper, used across all three formats.
How many IPL teams has KL Rahul played for?
Five: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Delhi Capitals.
How many Instagram followers does KL Rahul have?
24 million, according to his verified Instagram account as of 2025.
What award did KL Rahul receive from the ICC?
He was named India Cricketer of the Year by the International Cricket Council.
What is KL Rahul’s batting style?
He is a right-hand batter.
Has KL Rahul captained India?
Yes, he served as captain for India in all three formats during various series.
Where did KL Rahul marry Athiya Shetty?
They married at a private ceremony in Khandala, Maharashtra, in 2023.
Does KL Rahul keep wickets?
Yes, he is a wicket-keeper batsman and has kept wickets for India in ODIs and T20Is.
Related reading
- MS Dhoni: Age, Net Worth, and IPL 2026 Status — A parallel profile of another Indian cricket superstar.
- MS Dhoni IPL 2026: Facts on His Future and Career — Deep dive into IPL careers and franchise value.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.