Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions of the IPL, have named Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the 2025 season, with Venkatesh Iyer stepping in as vice-captain. The decision comes as a surprise to many, given Rahane’s journey over the past few years, but the franchise is banking on his experience and composure to lead them in their title defence.
“It’s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, one of the most successful franchises in the IPL,” Ajinkya Rahane expressed. “We have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and taking up the challenge of defending our title.”
Rahane’s appointment wasn’t an obvious choice, considering he initially went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction. KKR only picked him at his base price of INR 1.5 crore during the accelerated round on the second day.
However, CEO Venky Mysore expressed confidence in the veteran batter, stating, “We are delighted to have someone like Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Venkatesh Iyer, as a franchise player, also possesses strong leadership qualities, and we are confident they will combine well as we start our title defense.”
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KKR’s new season excitement wasn’t just about their captaincy announcement. The franchise also unveiled their new jersey, featuring three woven stars to represent their three IPL titles. The promotional campaign saw KKR stars like Rinku Singh, Iyer, Manish Pandey, and Vaibhav Arora flaunting the new kit, building anticipation among fans.
🚨 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
Rahane’s return to KKR marks his second stint with the franchise, having previously played in 2022, when he struggled with only 133 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 103.90. However, his resurgence came at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2023, where he amassed 326 runs at a strike rate of 172.48. While IPL 2024 was less fruitful, with just 242 runs at 123.46, his blistering form for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy—469 runs at 164.56—proved his T20 prowess.
His captaincy experience spans 25 IPL matches—one for Rising Pune Super Giant in 2017 and 24 for Rajasthan Royals in 2018-19 before being replaced mid-season by Steve Smith. Now, he has a golden opportunity to leave a lasting leadership legacy at KKR.
In the 𝟯-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 (𝗞)𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝘆 lies the greatest championship story from the city of joy ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚨 2025 NEW JERSEY LAUNCHED: Buy it from 👉 https://t.co/BJP0u8H2x9 pic.twitter.com/aEbfYjh429
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 3, 2025
Meanwhile, Venkatesh Iyer’s rise has been remarkable. Despite not being one of KKR’s retained players before the mega auction, the franchise aggressively bought him back for INR 23.75 crore, making him the fourth most expensive player in IPL history. His contributions last season were vital, scoring 370 runs at a strike rate of 158.79 in their title-winning campaign.
KKR will begin their IPL 2025 season with a blockbuster opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22, a privilege they earned after clinching the 2024 title under Shreyas Iyer. However, Shreyas was not retained and will now lead Punjab Kings.
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With KKR confirming their leadership, Delhi Capitals remain the only franchise yet to announce a captain. Rishabh Pant, who led DC last season, was not retained and will now captain Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025. The stage is set for another thrilling IPL season, and all eyes will be on Rahane as he takes charge of the Knight Riders.
