The Kolkata Knight Riders announced Ajinkya Rahane as the new skipper for IPL 2025. Rahane takes over as the KKR captain from the once title-winning Shreyas Iyer as the 2025 tournament approaches, while Venkatesh Iyer will be his deputy.
Listless within the camp, KKR had parts with skipper Shreyas Iyer ahead of the 2025 auction after the IPL 2023 champion for the Chennai Super Kings was roped into the franchise for a base price of Rs 1.50 crore through the mega auction.
“It’s an honour that I have been asked to lead KKR, one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. I believe we have great and balanced squad. I am looking forward to working with everyone and taking on the responsibility of defending the title,” Ajinkya Rahane, mentioned in a KKR release after being appointed captain.
His record as captain in the Indian Premier League hasn’t been great. He has captained Rajasthan Royals in only 24 games and has led the Rising Pune Supergiant in a match. In 25 games led by him, Rahane has only achieved 9 wins and is 16 losses.
Besides the agony of missing a spot in the national squad, Rahane has been on the rampage with scoring runs. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rahane registered 469 runs from nine innings at an average of 58.62, making him the highest run-scorer for Mumbai. Rahane led Mumbai to the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy, where defending champions Vidarbha put an end to their title aspirations. Towards the end of the tournament, Rahane finally found his batting rhythm, scoring a landmark century against Haryana in the quarterfinal.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore also gave his reactions on the announcement. “We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and brings a lot of leadership qualities. We are confident that they will combine well as we start the defense of our title,” Mysore said