Ajinkya Rahane to Lead KKR Before IPL 2025

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made Ajinkya Rahane their captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 36-year-old batter takes the place of Shreyas Iyer, who has switched to Punjab Kings. However, KKR’s most pricey player, Venkatesh Iyer, bought for ₹23.75 crore, has been appointed vice-captain.

Rahane, who is accustomed to calm captaincy and has huge experience, has no dearth of exposure to captaincy. He led India to a historic Test series win in Australia in 2020-21 famously. His leadership skills and pressure-handling capabilities are likely to serve KKR well when they try to defend their IPL title.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Rahane said, “It’s a privilege to captain KKR, one of the most successful teams in the IPL. We have a solid and well-balanced team, and I’m looking forward to getting together with all the guys to defend our title.”

KKR CEO Venky Mysore was also optimistic about the new leadership pair, stating, “Ajinkya’s experience and temperament will be a big asset. Having Venkatesh as vice-captain enhances our strength. We are looking forward to the upcoming season.”

The 2025 season of IPL will start on March 22 with KKR taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens. KKR, as the defending champions, will aim to capitalize on their past success and make a powerful beginning under Rahane’s leadership.

Rahane’s appointment has been well-received by the fans and pundits, who think his tactical know-how will help KKR. With a combination of veterans and youngsters, the team looks in good shape for the upcoming tournament.

With the countdown to IPL 2025 underway, all attention will be on Rahane and his team as they set out to defend their title.