Ajinkya Rahane Named Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025
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Kolkata Knight Riders have announced Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with Venkatesh Iyer as his deputy. This decision comes after the team's previous captain, Shreyas Iyer, was released and bought by Punjab Kings for a record sum of INR 26.75 Crore. Rahane, who was picked up by KKR for his base price of INR 1.50 Crore, will lead the team in their title defense, starting with the season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Rahane has previous experience as a captain in the IPL, having led the Rising Pune Giants and Rajasthan Royals in the past. He has also led India in six Tests, three ODIs, and two T20Is, including a notable victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The veteran batsman has shown a significant improvement in form recently, topping the run charts with 469 runs at an average of 58.62 and a strike rate of 164.56 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. KKR CEO Venky Mysore expressed his confidence in Rahane's leadership abilities, stating that he brings experience and maturity to the team.
Venkatesh Iyer, who was acquired by KKR for INR 23.75 Crore, will serve as Rahane's vice-captain. Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and has shown leadership qualities, making him an ideal candidate for the role. The team's management believes that Rahane and Iyer will combine well to lead the team to success in the upcoming season. The appointment of Rahane as captain and Iyer as vice-captain is seen as a strategic move by KKR to defend their title, and fans will be eager to see how the team performs under their leadership.
The IPL 2025 season is expected to be highly competitive, with several teams having made significant changes to their squads during the auction. KKR will face tough competition from teams like RCB, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings, but with Rahane and Iyer at the helm, they are confident of making a strong defense of their title. The team's preparations are underway, and they will be looking to fine-tune their strategy and tactics before the season opener.
Here are the key details about KKR's squad for IPL 2025:
- Captain: Ajinkya Rahane
- Vice-captain: Venkatesh Iyer
- Season opener: March 22 against RCB at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Notable players: Rahane, Iyer, and other key players who will be crucial to the team's success
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