Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 season, marking a strategic shift toward experience in leadership. Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned campaigner in the league, returns to lead the franchise with a calm and steady approach that the management believes will steer the team through the high-pressure tournament.
Captaincy is taxing on a youngster- KKR CEO Venky Mysore
The decision was not made lightly. Although Venkatesh Iyer was in the mix for captaincy, KKR’s management felt the role could be too demanding for a younger player in such a challenging competition. As KKR CEO Venky Mysore explained while having an interaction with ESPNcricinfo and mentioned why KKR went ahead with Ajinkya Rahane for leadership role.
“IPL is quite an intense tournament. We think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen many people having challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward.It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” said Venky Mysor
I didn’t get recognition after winning IPL- Shreyas Iyer
This leadership decision comes on the heels of a dramatic off-season. Shreyas Iyer, who captained KKR to their third IPL title in 2024, was released before the mega auction. It was quite baffling to see when Shreyas Iyer axed given under his captaincy KKR won IPL after 2014 edition.
Shreyas’ departure was followed by a major financial move when Punjab Kings snapped him up for INR 26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in the tournament.
“I personally felt I didn’t get the recognition I wanted after winning the IPL but at the end of the day, as long as you have self-integrity and you keep doing the right things when no one is watching, that is more important and that is what I kept doing,” Iyer said to The Times of India.
Meanwhile, KKR made a substantial commitment by spending INR 23.75 crore to retain Venkatesh Iyer. Yet, despite the hefty price tag, the franchise chose to entrust the captaincy to Ajinkya Rahane, betting on his experience to guide the team through the intense season.
Ajinkya Rahane a gem
Ajinkya Rahane’s return to KKR is itself a remarkable story. Initially unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, he was recalled by the team at his base price of ₹1.5 crore, marking a comeback to a side he previously represented in IPL 2022. Ajinkya Rahane rediscovered his mojo after being with CSK for 2 editions: IPL 2023 & IPL 2024. Rahane was a part of CSK’s magnificent triumph in IPL 2023 and played a key role in it.
With an IPL journey starting in 2008, Rahane has led six different franchises, captained India in Test cricket, managed significant stints with teams like Rising Supergiants and Rajasthan Royals, and guided Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy semi-finals this season with 467 runs, including a century. All eyes will be on Ajinkya Rahane as he takes on the challenge of leading the team in IPL 2025. Will his experience steer KKR to back to back title? Fans won’t have to wait long to find the answer; they will see it at Eden Gardens on Saturday, 22 March 2025.
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