Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are facing a big decision after failing to bring back captain Shreyas Iyer for the IPL 2025 season. Although Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s top buy at INR 23.5 crore, was initially considered for the role, reports suggest that Ajinkya Rahane is now the frontrunner. Rahane, bought for INR 1.5 crore, was reportedly purchased with the intention of leading the team.
Rahane, a seasoned leader, has captained various teams in different formats, including the Indian team in the absence of regular captains and is currently leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. In the IPL, he captained Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and 2019.
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A source has reportedly said that Rahane is 90% confirmed as the new KKR captain, with Venkatesh Iyer potentially taking on the vice-captain role. This setup would allow Rahane to mentor Iyer for future leadership.
Rahane’s previous leadership record with Rajasthan Royals saw mixed results, winning only nine of 24 matches.