Ajinkya Rahane Takes Charge as KKR Captain for IPL 2025

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The IPL Defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) named Ajinkya Rahane, captain for the 2025 season, and Venkatesh Iyer, Vice-Captain.

KKR won the last IPL trophy under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy but did not retain him in the mega auction, which caused a lot of noise about conflicts. In the mega auction, Punjab Kings signed Shreyas Iyer with a record-breaking bid of 26.75 crore rupees, which made him the highest-paid player in the IPL’s history. He will surely be the captain of the Punjab team.

Cool, Calm, and Captain Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane isn’t new to leading a side and has a solid track record. Remember India’s stunning comeback victory in the 2020-21 Test series Down Under? Yep, that was under Rahane’s captaincy.

On the domestic front, he recently led Mumbai to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win and even topped the charts as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. It’s safe to say that KKR couldn’t have asked for a steadier hand at the wheel.

Rahane’s journey to this captaincy role wasn’t exactly straightforward. He went unsold on the first day of the IPL 2025 mega auction but found his way back into the league when KKR scooped him up for INR 1.5 crore. Here he is, leading the squad as they aim to defend their title.

Venkatesh Iyer as Vice-Captain

Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s ace all-rounder, who was backed with 23.75 crore, will be by his side. Iyer was an important cog in KKR’s championship run last season, scoring 370 runs at an astonishing strike rate of close to 159. He scored an amazing knock of 52 runs in just 26 balls to win the match quite easily.

Ajinkya Rahane Statement

When asked about his new role, Rahane said:

“It’s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, which has been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. I think we have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and taking up the challenge of defending our title.”

What’s Next?

KKR’s first game of the season is set to be a cracker. They’re taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Eden Gardens on March 22. As defending champions, the pressure is definitely on, but with Rahane and Iyer at the helm, the Knight Riders look more than ready to rise to the occasion.

So, KKR fans, buckle up. It will be an exciting season! Rahane’s calm demeanor and Iyer’s explosive energy could be the perfect combo to take KKR to new heights. Let’s see how this chapter unfolds.