IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane Takes the Helm as KKR Captain

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have boldly moved ahead of IPL 2025, appointing Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain. This decision comes after Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024, was released and later snapped up by Punjab Kings for a record-breaking ₹26.75 Crore. To support Rahane, KKR has named Venkatesh Iyer his deputy, marking a new chapter for the defending champions.

Ajinkya Rahane named KKR captain for IPL 2025, with Venkatesh Iyer as deputy. Can Rahane lead KKR to back-to-back titles? Full details inside.

𝕂night. 𝕂aptain. ℝahane. 💜 pic.twitter.com/afi1HHYEHd

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 3, 2025

A New Chapter for Rahane

Rahane’s appointment is a testament to his resilience and experience. After a quiet 2024 season with Chennai Super Kings, where he scored just 242 runs in 13 innings, Rahane went unsold in the initial rounds of the auction. However, KKR saw potential in the seasoned campaigner and picked him up for his base price of ₹1.50 Crore during the accelerated round.

Since then, Rahane has been in stellar form. He played a pivotal role in Mumbai’s recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 469 runs at an average of 58.62 and a jaw-dropping strike rate of 164.56. This resurgence has silenced his critics and positioned him as a reliable leader for KKR.

Speaking about his new role, Rahane expressed his excitement and determination. “It’s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, which has been one of the most successful franchises in IPL. I think we have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and the challenge of defending our title.” he said.

#KnightsArmy, our Captain’s message is here 🗣️🎙️

Ajinkya Rahane | #AmiKKR | #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/5SHWavv882

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 3, 2025

Rahane’s calm demeanour and vast experience make him an ideal candidate to steer KKR through the challenges of the upcoming season. His ability to lead by example, both on and off the field, will be crucial as the team aims to become the first to defend an IPL title since 2011 successfully.

Venkatesh Iyer: The Perfect Deputy

Venkatesh Iyer’s rise in the IPL has been nothing short of remarkable. Since joining KKR in 2021, he has become one of the team’s most dependable players. In the 2021 season, he played a key role in KKR’s journey to the final, scoring 370 runs in 10 innings, including crucial fifties in the qualifier and final.

Retained for ₹8 Crore in the 2022 mega auction, Venkatesh further cemented his reputation with a blistering 51-ball century against Mumbai Indians in 2023. This made him only the second KKR player, after Brendon McCullum, to score an IPL hundred. His all-round abilities and leadership qualities make him the perfect deputy to Rahane.

Rahane’s IPL Captaincy Journey

Rahane is no stranger to leadership in the IPL. He has previously captained Rising Pune Supergiant in one match during the 2017 season and led Rajasthan Royals for 24 matches in 2018. Although his stint with Rajasthan ended midway through the 2019 season when Steve Smith took over, Rahane’s experience at the helm will be invaluable for KKR.

In 25 matches as captain, Rahane has 9 wins and 16 losses. While the numbers may not tell the full story, his ability to inspire and strategize under pressure will be key to KKR’s success.

A Fresh Start for KKR

KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed his confidence in the new leadership duo. “Ajinkya Rahane who his experience and maturity as a leader, while Venkatesh Iyer has shown tremendous leadership potential. We believe they will complement each other perfectly as we aim to defend our title,” he said.

🚨 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 – Ajinkya Rahane named captain of KKR. Venkatesh Iyer named Vice-Captain of KKR for TATA IPL 2025. pic.twitter.com/F6RAccqkmW

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 3, 2025

KKR’s campaign to defend their title will kick off on March 22 with a high-octane clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With Rahane and Venkatesh leading the charge, KKR fans have every reason to be optimistic about their team’s chances.

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