Ajinkya Rahane to Lead Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025
The appointment of Ajinkya Rahane as captain and Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain marks a significant leadership change for KKR ahead of IPL 2025. With a balanced squad and experienced leadership, KKR aims to defend their title in the upcoming season.
By Shreya Rajvanshi Gangal
In a strategic move ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain, following the departure of Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab Kings. Venkatesh Iyer has been named the vice-captain.
Ajinkya Rahane's Leadership and Experience
Ajinkya Rahane, aged 36, brings a wealth of experience to KKR. Renowned for his calm demeanor and strategic acumen, Rahane previously led the Indian Test team to a historic series victory in Australia during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His IPL leadership experience includes captaining the Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Venkatesh Iyer's Role as Vice-Captain
Venkatesh Iyer, a seam-bowling all-rounder, has been a pivotal player for KKR since his debut in 2021. His consistent performances have earned him the role of vice-captain, reflecting the franchise's confidence in his leadership potential.
Management's Perspective
Venky Mysore, KKR's Chief Executive, expressed optimism about the new leadership duo, stating that their combined experience and skills are expected to drive the team's success in the upcoming season.
KKR's Squad for IPL 2025
The KKR squad for the 2025 season comprises a blend of seasoned players and promising talent, including:
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Batsmen: Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane.
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All-Rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell.
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Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson, Umran Malik, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Season Opener
KKR is set to commence their title defense against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22 at Eden Gardens.
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