KKR Eyes Ajinkya Rahane as IPL 2025 Captain Over Mega-Buy Venkatesh Iyer

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In a surprising turn of events, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly set to appoint Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for IPL 2025, despite acquiring Venkatesh Iyer for a staggering ₹23.75 crore at the mega auction in Jeddah.

The decision comes as a twist in the narrative, with Rahane being brought in at his base price of ₹1.5 crore, specifically to fill the leadership role. As per a report, a source confirmed to The Times of India that the captaincy was almost confirmed.

"Yes, at the moment it's 90% confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option," the source said. Rahane's leadership credentials are well-documented.

The 36-year-old famously led India to a historic Test series victory in Australia during the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and has captained multiple teams in domestic cricket. However, his IPL captaincy experience is limited, having led the Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, with a modest record of nine wins in 24 matches.

KKR's decision comes as a surprise to many, especially after Venkatesh Iyer publicly expressed his desire to lead the side. "I have always believed that captaincy is just a tag, but leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels they can play for this team and contribute. If given the responsibility, I would be more than happy to do it," Iyer said in an interview with JioCinema.

Iyer, who played a pivotal role for KKR over the past four years and has worked closely with head coach Chandrakant Pandit, was viewed as a natural choice for the captaincy. He also served as vice-captain and led the team briefly during Nitish Rana's absence in the previous season.

Rahane's appointment could signal a strategic shift for the franchise as they aim to defend their IPL 2024 title. His calm demeanor and tactical acumen are seen as assets to guide a team that has retained its core players, including Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell, while making big-ticket signings like Iyer, Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore), and Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 crore).

If finalized, Rahane would take over from Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their championship victory last season before being acquired by Punjab Kings for a record ₹26.75 crore. Meanwhile, KKR may look to groom Venkatesh Iyer as a future captain, potentially handing him the vice-captaincy for the upcoming season.