In a big announcement that has despatched ripples by way of the cricketing world, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have formally named veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Alongside Rahane, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has been appointed because the vice-captain, signaling a mix of expertise and youth within the management group because the defending champions put together to defend their title.
โ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ โ Ajinkya Rahane named captain of KKR. Venkatesh Iyer named Vice-Captain of KKR for TATA IPL 2025,โ wrote KKR on X.
๐จ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ โ Ajinkya Rahane named captain of KKR. Venkatesh Iyer named Vice-Captain of KKR for TATA IPL 2025. pic.twitter.com/F6RAccqkmW
โ KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 3, 2025
A shock alternative amid excessive expectations
The choice to nominate Rahane, who was acquired for a modest INR 1.5 crore on the IPL 2025 mega public sale in Jeddah final 12 months, comes as a shock to many followers and analysts. KKRโs most costly purchase, Venkatesh, fetched a staggering INR 23.75 crore in the identical public sale, resulting in widespread hypothesis that the 30-year-old all-rounder would take the reins following the departure of title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas, who led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024, was launched forward of the public sale and subsequently snapped up by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 26.75 crore. He has additionally been named captain of Punjab earlier in January.
Additionally READ: BCCI declares full schedule of IPL 2025; last to happen in Kolkata
Strategic appointment by KKR
Rahaneโs appointment, nevertheless, displays a strategic alternative by KKRโs administration to prioritize expertise and tactical acumen over youthful exuberance on the helm. The 36-year-old brings a wealth of management credentials to the desk, having captained India to a historic Take a look at sequence win in Australia through the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and main Mumbai to Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy triumphs lately. His IPL captaincy expertise, albeit blended, consists of stints with Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and 2019, the place he managed 9 wins in 24 matches, and a short spell with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017.