Ajinkya Rahane Named Kolkata Knight Riders Captain for IPL 2025, Venkatesh Iyer Appointed Vice-Captain
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain ahead of IPL 2025. Rahane succeeds Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title last season before being released and subsequently bought by Punjab Kings for a record-breaking INR 26.75 crore. Meanwhile, KKR’s marquee signing, Venkatesh Iyer, who was acquired for INR 23.75 crore, has been named Rahane’s deputy.
“It’s an honor to lead KKR, one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. We have an excellent and well-balanced squad, and I look forward to working with everyone to take on the challenge of defending our title,” Rahane said following his appointment.
Rahane’s Resurgence in Form
The decision marks a remarkable turnaround for the veteran Indian batter, who initially went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction after a disappointing season with Chennai Super Kings (242 runs in 13 innings). However, he was later picked up by KKR in the accelerated round for his base price of INR 1.50 crore.
Since then, Rahane has experienced a resurgence in form. He played a key role in Mumbai’s recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph, topping the run charts with 469 runs at an impressive average of 58.62 and a blistering strike rate of 164.56.
“We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings experience and maturity as a leader. Venkatesh Iyer, who has been a core part of KKR, also possesses strong leadership qualities. We are confident they will complement each other well as we begin our title defense,” said KKR CEO Venky Mysore.
Rahane’s IPL Captaincy Record
This will be Rahane’s second stint with KKR, having previously played for them in the 2022 season, where he featured in seven matches and scored 133 runs. The following season, he moved to CSK and revived his IPL career, scoring 326 runs at a strike rate of 172.49 in their title-winning campaign.
Rahane also brings leadership experience to the role. He has captained in 25 IPL matches, securing nine wins and suffering 16 losses. He briefly led the Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017 and was the full-time skipper of Rajasthan Royals in 2018 before being replaced by Steve Smith midway through the 2019 season.
Venkatesh Iyer’s Meteoric Rise
As for his deputy, KKR fought off competition from RCB to secure Venkatesh Iyer for a staggering INR 23.75 crore, making him the fourth most expensive player in IPL auction history.
Venkatesh first joined KKR in 2021 for his base price of INR 20 lakh during the COVID-hit season. In the second half of that season, played in the UAE, he emerged as a key top-order batter, scoring 370 runs in 10 innings. His contributions, including fifties in the second qualifier and the final, helped KKR finish as runners-up to CSK. He was later retained for INR 8 crore ahead of the 2022 mega auction.
In the 2023 season, Venkatesh cemented his reputation as a game-changer, smashing a 51-ball century against Mumbai Indians—becoming only the second KKR batter to score an IPL hundred after Brendon McCullum’s iconic knock on the opening night of IPL 2008.
KKR’s Title Defense Begins March 22
With Rahane and Venkatesh leading the charge, KKR will kick off their title defense in the IPL 2025 season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.