With the exit of previous skipper Shreyas Iyer, a pressing question remains surrounding KKR’s captaincy for IPL 2025.
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a good auction where they managed to buy back some of their key players from the championship-winning squad apart from adding new talents to their roster.
The three-time IPL winners roped in last season’s Venkatesh Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora and Manish Pandey while adding adequate firepower across other departments.
However, with the exit of previous skipper Shreyas Iyer, who has now joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the next season, a pressing question remains surrounding KKR’s captaincy.
In this article, we take a look at three players who can be probably become the next leader for KKR.
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Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer is reportedly the frontrunner for the KKR captaincy in IPL 2025. The dynamic all-rounder was bought by KKR for a record fee of INR 23.75 crore on Day 1 of the IPL 2025 auction. In fact, he was the third-highest buy at the event in Jeddah after Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore, LSG) and Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crore, PBKS).
While the steep price surprised many, it can be expected that the franchise has repaid the faith in Iyer for his contributions in the past and now wants him to shoulder more responsibilities. Notably, Venkatesh Iyer has previously led the KKR side, albeit briefly, in the absence of Nitish Rana when he was out due to injury. Furthermore, Venkatesh Iyer himself has shown readiness to lead the side after his auction buy.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh could be another potential candidate to captain KKR in IPL 2025. The left-handed batter has been a part of the franchise since the 2018 season, showcasing consistency and dedication. Over the years, he has grown in stature and evolved into one of KKR’s best finishers, who could take the team over the finish line under difficult circumstances.
Rinku has demonstrated the ability to stay calm under pressure, proving his resilience in challenging situations. Having also represented India in limited-overs cricket, he has gained valuable experience competing at the highest level. The Knight Riders might take a punt entrusting Rinku with the leadership role, banking on his skills and composure.
Ajinkya Rahane
KKR went ahead and smartly bought Ajinkya Rahane late into the auction for a bargain price of INR 1.5 crore. While Rahane will provide the team with much-needed experience in the batting department, another vital reason that KKR has opted for the experienced player is that they might consider him for the captaincy of the team in IPL 2025.
One can only expect that the former India vice-captain is the ideal candidate to replace Shreyas Iyer as the next leader of the side, given his experience. The stylish right-hander was also previously a part of the KKR setup during the IPL 2022 season and is familiar with the team philosophy and management.
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