IPL 2025: 'Definitely, I'm Ready' - Venkatesh Iyer Open to Take up KKR Captaincy, Wants to be Role Model

Add as a preferred source on Google

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer is open to take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captaincy role if given the opportunity in the IPL 2025 despite having no captaincy experience at any levels in competitive cricket.

The reigning champions, who will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game this season at the Eden Gardens, are yet to announce their captain with Ajiknya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer being backed to take over the role vacated by Shreyas Iyer.

Shreyas Iyer had led them to the title win in IPL 2024, but he was acquired by Punjab Kings in the mega auction and later named him as their skipper after the defending champions decided to release him.

Venkatesh Iyer also was released ahead of last year's auction, but the Madhya Pradesh mainstay was bought back for a hefty Rs 23.75 crore after an intense bidding war with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

After KKR splashed the cash on Venkatesh, many believed the 30-year-old has been bough back for a bigger role, possibly as a captaincy candidate. As KKR keep everyone waiting, Venkatesh has said he is prepared to take on the leadership role.

"Definitely, I'm ready. Again, I've always said this: captaincy is just a tag. I believe in leadership. That is a bigger role to play, being a leader," Venkatesh told ESPNcricinfo. "There's no ambiguity surrounding this. I'll definitely do it, if it comes my way. There is no reason not to do it," he added.

Iyer said the captain needs to "set an example" by being a "good role model". "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.

"I'm not the captain of the MP team, but my opinions are respected and I really love to be in an atmosphere where every individual - new or experienced, Rs 20 lakh, Rs 20 crore, whatever - you just need to have the freedom to voice your opinion.

"You just need to have the freedom to give opinions and give suggestions and them to be taken in the right spirit," the left-hander, who joined the KKR in 2021 and has scored 1,326 runs in 51 IPL matches, said.

KKR also went into the 2022 Mega Auction in search of a captain and landed Shreyas Iyer, who was then the biggest buy the franchise. Venkatesh Iyer also may have been bought back at any cost for the captaincy role, but reports suggest Ajinkya Rahane who has captaincy experience may edge him to the post.

KKR has shown a lot of faith in Venkatesh as the Kolkata-based franchise also retained the all-rounder over someone like Shubman Gill ahead of the 2022 auction. With the start of the next IPL season not the far away, expect KKR to make the announcement in the coming days.

Kolkata Knight Riders have already started their preparatory camp in Mumbai from February 22, featuring nine domestic players, including Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, and rising talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who impressed in 2024. Newcomers Mayank Markande and Luvnith Sisodia are also part of the setup.

Apart from KKR, even Delhi Capitals have not named their captain for the upcoming season with KL Rahul and Axar Patel backed to be the potential replacements of Rishabh Pant, who was made the most expensive player and the captain by Lucknow Super Giants.