KL Rahul recently opened up about his hilarious off-field banter with England legend Kevin Pietersen during the 2025 IPL season — a friendship that had fans in splits throughout the tournament. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, who represented Delhi Capitals after his move from Lucknow Super Giants, shared that he once jokingly “complained” to Pietersen’s wife, Jessica, about the former England skipper being “too rude” to him.
Speaking on the 2 Sloggers YouTube podcast, KL Rahul fondly recalled how his playful exchanges with Pietersen quickly became fan favourites. “Our banter is different. He’s a great sport. He gives it back to you as well,” Rahul said with a grin. Their constant back-and-forth was often captured by Delhi Capitals’ social media team, giving fans a peek into their lively dressing room dynamic.
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The star cricketer revealed that his wife, actor Athiya Shetty, wasn’t always amused by his teasing tone. “There was this video DC posted, and my wife told me, ‘Why are you being so mean? He’s such a sweet guy,’” Rahul laughed. “I told her, ‘You’ve seen just three clips out of the hundred times he’s been after me!’”
Rahul’s anecdote didn’t stop there. While touring England earlier this year, he shared dinner with Pietersen and his wife, where he couldn’t resist playfully bringing up the matter again.
“I complained to his wife and told her, ‘Tell your husband to go easy on me — he’s very rude to me,’” KL Rahul said, chuckling.
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Their friendly rivalry became one of the most entertaining subplots of the Delhi Capitals’ IPL 2025 campaign. Pietersen, who once criticized Rahul’s cautious T20 batting style, ended up praising his aggressive and match-winning performances that season. The lighthearted camaraderie between the two cricketing stars not only delighted fans but also showed a refreshing, humorous side of the high-pressure IPL environment — where respect and laughter often go hand in hand.
