KKR Signals New Leadership for IPL 2025, Venkatesh Iyer Not in the Running

Published On: December 2, 2024 7:19 am

Given that Venkatesh Iyer was predicted to captain the team in the 2025 Indian Premier League, the switch from KKR is quite surprising.

Just hours after the Kolkata Knight Riders unexpectedly purchased him back with a price of INR 23.75 crore, India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer had put himself up to be the team’s new captain. But according to reports, the great player was replaced since KKR had virtually announced Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain.

According to a Times of India story, Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captain Rahane, who notably guided India to a historic 2020–21 Test series victory in Australia, is expected to take up the leadership position in the IPL once again in a startling turn of events. At last week’s massive auction in Jeddah, the former vice captain of India was selected at his base price of INR 1.5 crore.

“Yes, Ajinkya’s appointment as the next KKR captain is currently 90% certain. According to a source who spoke to TOI, KKR purchased him expressly to have him as a leadership possibility.

Given that he has four years of experience with the team and has worked with franchise head coach Chandrakant Pandit during the latter’s tenure with Madhya Pradesh, Venkatesh was predicted to captain the team in the 2025 Indian Premier League, therefore his departure from KKR is a major surprise.

Venkatesh really said that he was prepared to take on the role of captain in the upcoming IPL season shortly after he was re-signed by KKR. “I’ve always thought that leadership is about fostering an atmosphere where everyone feels like they can play for this team and contribute, whereas captaincy is simply a tag. He told the broadcasters JioCinema, “I would be more than happy to take on the responsibility if given it.”

“I had the opportunity to captain the side in Nitish Rana’s absence when he was unfortunately injured, and I was the vice-captain as well;” he stated.

Examining Rahane’s IPL captaincy record

Shortly after being re-signed by KKR, Venkatesh really said that he was ready to assume the captaincy job in the forthcoming IPL season. “I’ve always believed that while captaincy is only a title, leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels like they can play for this team and contribute. In an interview with JioCinema, he stated, “I would be more than happy to take on the responsibility if given it.”

Before being replaced by Shreyas Iyer at the beginning of the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy competition, Rahane also captained Mumbai’s T20 squad in 26 games across 13 years, during which the team won 19 games. Ironically, Rahane would take Iyer’s spot as captain if KKR formally appointed him.