Defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have revealed that Ajinkya Rahane will captain the team in IPL 2025. He will become the eighth captain of the franchise, taking over from Shreyas Iyer, who was let go after guiding the team to its third championship last year. All rounder Venkatesh Iyer will be the assistant to Rahane.
The champions, who have won three times, acquired Rahane for his initial price of Rs. 1.5 crore in the IPL 2025 larger auction.
This marks the Mumbaikar’s second time wearing a KKR jersey after he spent a year in Kolkata in 2022.
Venkatesh, signed for 23.75 crore (the third-highest earner), will enter a second season as vice-captain following a short period as Shreyas’s assistant during the initial phase of the previous season.
Making the announcement, Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said, “We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and brings a lot of leadership qualities. We are confident that they will combine well as we start the defense of our title.”
Rahane, 36, is currently the oldest skipper in IPL 2025 (not counting Delhi Capitals, who have not announced yet). KKR will be the third franchise he will manage in the league, following Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant, making him only the second player to achieve a triple-up.
In addition to this, he has guided Mumbai to two Ranji Trophy titles and India to one of its most remarkable Border-Gavaskar Trophy victories in 2020-21.
He had a few uncertainties regarding his T20 performance until last season, but eased some doubts by finishing the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as the top run-scorer with 469 runs at an average of 58.62 and a strike rate of 164.56.
