Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, a key contributor to Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL triumph last season, has expressed his willingness to take on the captaincy if given the opportunity. Despite not being among KKR’s retained players, the franchise demonstrated their faith in him by spending a staggering ₹23.75 crore at the auction to bring him back.
With former captain Shreyas Iyer moving to Punjab Kings in the mega auction, KKR is yet to announce their new leader. While Venkatesh has no prior experience as a captain, he believes that leadership extends beyond just holding a title and is prepared to step up if required.
“Definitely, I’m ready,” Venkatesh Iyer affirmed. “I’ve always said this—captaincy is just a tag. I believe in leadership. That is a bigger role to play.” He emphasized that if the responsibility comes his way, he will embrace it without hesitation.
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Venkatesh Iyer further elaborated on his perspective, highlighting that being a leader is about setting an example rather than simply holding a position.
Venkatesh Iyer About KKR Captaincy 🗣️
‘I have always said this : captaincy is just a tag, I believe in leadership, you don’t necessarily need the tag of a captain to be a leader in your dressing room’ pic.twitter.com/7DPG2ebL2X
— Knight Club : KKR (@KnightClub_KKR) February 25, 2025
“You don’t necessarily need the tag of a captain to be a leader in your dressing room. You need to set examples. You need to be a good role model, both on and off the field, which I am doing right now in Madhya Pradesh,” he explained.
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While he may not currently captain his state team, Venkatesh Iyer takes pride in being a respected voice in the dressing room. “My opinions are valued, and I love being in an environment where everyone—whether a seasoned player or a newcomer, whether bought for ₹20 lakh or ₹20 crore—has the freedom to express their views.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of open communication, stating, “It’s essential to have the freedom to share opinions and suggestions, and for them to be taken in the right spirit.”
