IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane appointed captain of KKR, Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain

Key Takeaways

Ajinkya Rahane becomes KKR's new skipper for IPL 2025.
Venkatesh Iyer appointed as vice-captain.
Rahane previously captained Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant.
KKR starts IPL 2025 season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Rahane was the top scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) The defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially appointed veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Additionally, all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has been designated as the vice-captain.

As the senior-most player in the KKR roster, Rahane takes over the captaincy role previously held by Shreyas Iyer, who led the team to victory in IPL 2024 held in Chennai. Iyer has since been signed by Punjab Kings for IPL 2025.

“Being named captain of KKR, one of the most successful franchises in the IPL, is a great honor. I believe we possess a well-rounded squad and I am eager to collaborate with everyone to tackle the challenge of defending our title,” Rahane stated in a franchise-issued announcement on Monday.

Previously, Rahane has captained the Rajasthan Royals, guiding them to the playoffs in IPL 2018, and the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. With Rahane's acquisition, his captaincy was almost a foregone conclusion, although Iyer, the franchise's most expensive acquisition at ₹23.75 crores, and Rinku Singh were also considered for the leadership role.

In the recent domestic season, Rahane led Mumbai to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was the tournament's top scorer with 469 runs from nine matches, including five half-centuries, earning him the Player of the Tournament title.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Ajinkya Rahane's caliber, who brings invaluable experience and leadership to the team. Venkatesh Iyer has also been a vital player for KKR, showcasing his leadership qualities. We are confident in their ability to work together as we embark on our title defense,” said Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR.

KKR will kick off their IPL 2025 journey with the opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens on March 22. They recently conducted a training camp for their nine Indian players in Mumbai and will hold a pre-season camp in Kolkata starting from March 12.