Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has announced its new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The team has appointed experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane as its captain.
Sports News: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has announced its new captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The team has appointed experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane as captain, and all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer as the vice-captain. This decision is part of a new strategic approach by the team management to ensure KKR remains bly positioned to defend their title.
Rahane Appointed Captain, Iyer Vice-Captain
KKR CEO Venky Mysore said, "We are extremely excited to have Ajinkya Rahane lead our team. His experience and maturity will be invaluable to the squad. Venkatesh Iyer, on the other hand, has been a crucial player for the team for a long time and possesses b leadership qualities. We expect the team to perform exceptionally well under their combined leadership."
Ajinkya Rahane expressed his delight at his new role, saying, "It is an honor to captain such a prestigious team as Kolkata Knight Riders. We have a balanced and b team, and I am ready to face this challenge together with all the players."
Rahane's Captaincy Record and Experience
In IPL 2024, KKR won the title under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, but the team released him before the mega auction. This led to much speculation regarding the captaincy. Initially, Venkatesh Iyer was considered a b contender, especially after the team retained him for ₹23.75 crore. However, Ajinkya Rahane was ultimately chosen.
Ajinkya Rahane previously captained Rajasthan Royals. He led Rajasthan in 25 matches, winning 9 and losing 16. He also captained Pune Supergiants in one match. In IPL 2023, he was a member of Chennai Super Kings, who won the trophy that season.
List of KKR Captains
1. Sourav Ganguly: 27 matches, 13 wins, 14 losses
2. Brendon McCullum: 13 matches, 3 wins, 9 losses
3. Gautam Gambhir: 122 matches, 69 wins, 51 losses
4. Jacques Kallis: 2 matches, 1 win, 1 loss
5. Dinesh Karthik: 37 matches, 19 wins, 17 losses
6. Eoin Morgan: 24 matches, 11 wins, 12 losses
7. Shreyas Iyer: 29 matches, 17 wins, 11 losses
8. Nitish Rana: 14 matches, 6 wins, 8 losses
First Match on March 22nd against RCB
KKR will begin their IPL 2025 campaign on March 22nd at Eden Gardens against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This match will be the season opener, and anticipation is high among fans. It remains to be seen how successful KKR will be in defending their title under the new captaincy of Ajinkya Rahane.
