Ajinkya Rahane appointed KKR captain ahead of IPL 2025

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for IPL 2025.

Rahane takes over the reins from Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024 before being released and subsequently purchased by Punjab Kings for a record INR 26.75 crore. Venkatesh Iyer, KKR's INR 23.75 crore acquisition, has been appointed Rahane's deputy.

"I'm honoured to be given the responsibility to lead KKR, one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. We have an excellent and balanced squad, and I'm excited to work with everyone as we defend our title," Rahane said following his appointment.

The appointment marks a significant turnaround for Rahane, who was initially overlooked in the auction after an underwhelming season with Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 242 runs in 13 innings. However, KKR secured him at his base price of INR 1.50 crore during the accelerated round.

Rahane's form has since improved notably. He played a key role in Mumbai's victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, topping the run charts with 469 runs at an average of 58.62 and an impressive strike rate of 164.56.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed his confidence in the leadership duo: "We are delighted to have someone with Ajinkya Rahane's experience and maturity as our leader. Venkatesh Iyer, a franchise player, also brings strong leadership qualities. We believe they will complement each other well as we begin our title defence."

This is Rahane's second stint with KKR, having previously been acquired before the 2022 season. He played just seven games that year, amassing 133 runs. Rahane revived his career at Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 326 runs at a strike rate of 172.49 in their title-winning campaign.

Rahane also brings valuable captaincy experience, having led both the Rising Pune Giants in 2017 and Rajasthan Royals in 2018. In 25 matches as captain, Rahane has secured 9 wins and 16 losses.

Venkatesh Iyer, who was acquired by KKR in 2021 for his base price of INR 20 lakh, has become a key figure for the team. He played a crucial role in KKR's journey to the 2021 IPL final, scoring 370 runs in 10 innings. In 2023, he hit a 51-ball century against Mumbai Indians, becoming just the second KKR player to score an IPL century after Brendon McCullum.

With Rahane and Venkatesh leading the way, KKR will begin their title defence in the IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on 22 March at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.