Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has revealed the reason behind appointing Ajinkya Rahane as the skipper for the upcoming IPL 2025 season, instead of their record-signing Venkatesh Iyer.
Before the official announcement, there was speculation that both Rahane and Iyer were the frontrunners for the captaincy role. Although Iyer was not retained by KKR ahead of the mega auction, the franchise went all out to buy him back for a staggering ₹23.75 crore. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder had also expressed his interest in leading the team if given the opportunity.
However, the defending champions opted for the experienced Rahane as captain and named Iyer his deputy. Mysore explained that the decision was made to ensure Iyer wasn’t burdened by the pressures of captaincy at this stage of his career.
“IPL is quite an intense tournament. Clearly, we think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” Mysore told ESPNcricinfo.
Rahane, who is returning to KKR for his second stint, brings a wealth of experience to the leadership role. The veteran has captained India in 11 matches across formats, leading the team to eight victories. He has also led domestic teams and previously captained in the IPL for Rising Pune Supergiant and Rajasthan Royals, accumulating 25 matches as skipper.
Mysore emphasized Rahane’s credentials, stating, “He has played 185 IPL games, 200 international games across formats. He has led India, led Mumbai in domestic, he’s led in IPL. And he has played from season one of IPL. All that is massive. There should be no surprise at all.”
He further highlighted the complexities of IPL captaincy, saying, “Captaincy cannot be underestimated. This is going to be my 15th season, so I have seen a lot. It is not only about what you do on the field. There’s a lot of [other] stuff when it comes to IPL, including dealing with media, and there will be expectation in terms of the captain. At the same time, it is a new cycle; there is diversity in the team. If you have to be a successful captain, you have to invest in building relationships with everybody so that you know how to get the best out of everyone.”
Mysore also reassured that Iyer remains a key part of KKR’s leadership group and could be a captaincy option in the future.
“We have been very, very impressed with the leadership qualities that he has shown. He’s a franchise player, and what he has shown in terms of how he participates, the respect that others have around him, and the energy he brings [to the dressing room], so he definitely has got massive potential. So, he’s one for the future for us for sure. He clearly is captaincy material,” Mysore concluded.
With Rahane at the helm and Iyer as his deputy, KKR will look to defend their IPL title in the upcoming season.