Win Projections to be updated soon
Team India’s out-of-favour batter Ajinkya Rahane is likely to captain the Kolkata Knight Riders. According to multiple media reports, Rahane has almost been confirmed as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2025 season.
Rahane was earlier released by the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. However, he was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders as a last-minute auction buy. Nonetheless, he is now on his way to leading KKR as the defending champion in IPL 2025.
KKR’s Bold Captaincy Gamble
KKR’s decision to eye Rahane as a captaincy prospect wasn’t impulsive. As per The Times of India, the franchise had a crystal-clear strategy during the two-day auction in Jeddah. “Ajinkya was specifically targeted for his leadership skills,” a franchise insider revealed. “We wanted someone with calmness and experience to steer the ship in a transitional phase.”, he further added.
KKR will enter the IPL 2025 as the defending champions. KKR had Shreyas Iyer led them to the title in IPL 2024. However, with Iyer being bought by the Punjab Kings at the auction, KKR are on the lookout for a new captain.
Ajinkya Rahane’s IPL Career
Rahane’s IPL journey reads like a cricketing odyssey. He’s donned jerseys for almost half the league’s franchises—Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Rising Pune Supergiant, CSK, and now, in a second stint, KKR. His last outing with KKR in 2022 was, admittedly, forgettable. In IPL 2022, he scored a meagre 133 runs at a limping strike rate of 103.91.
Then came his stint with CSK. Rahane was reborn in the 2023 season, amassing 326 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 172.49. While his 2024 performance didn’t mirror the same magic, his tactical acumen and ability to anchor innings haven’t gone unnoticed.
Venkatesh Iyer Also in Race
Even though Rahane’s appointment looks all but certain, a very interesting subplot is at play here. Venkatesh Iyer, for whom KKR shelled out a staggering ₹23.75 crore, also figures in the captaincy chatter. Young, dynamic, and versatile, Iyer certainly forms an exciting option for the franchise. Still, there’s a likelihood of KKR choosing experience over exuberance.
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