Kolkata
Three -time winner and defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for IPL 2025. The responsibility of the vice -captain has been entrusted to all -rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who performed brilliantly in the last season.
Ajinkya Rahane will replace Shreyas Iyer
KKR signed Rahane for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore in the IPL mega auction in November last year. Meanwhile, Ventakesh Iyer was the biggest purchase of KKR with Rs 23.75 crore. Rahane will replace KKR’s successful captain Shreyas Iyer in the last season, who was not retained and then Punjab Kings added him to the auction.
What did Rahane say after getting KKR captaincy
Ajinkya Rahane looked quite happy after receiving KKR captaincy. After getting the captaincy, Rahane has assured the fans that he will try to defend the title this season. On getting the captaincy, Rahane said, it is an honor for him to captain Kolkata Knight Riders, one of the most successful franchisees in the IPL. He feels that he has a great and quite balanced team. They are eager to work with everyone and take a challenge to defend the trophy.
Rahane’s batting record in IPL
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been out of Team India for a long time, has a good record as a batsman in the IPL. He has played 185 matches in his IPL career. During this, he has scored 3761 runs at an average of 30.14 and a strike rate of 123.43. During this time, two centuries and 30 half -century innings have been seen with his bat. He is counted among the most successful batsmen of the IPL. Rahane has so far played for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings in IPL.
Rahane bought for 1.50 crores
Ajinkya Rahane played the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team last season. He was released by the franchise. In such a situation, in the mega auction of IPL 2025, Kolkata franchise has bought Rahane at a base price. His base price was Rs 1.50 crore.
On the other hand, Venkatesh Iyer, who is constantly with the KKR team. Although the franchise had also released Venkatesh last time, he bought again in mega auction. The Kolkata franchise spent Rs 23.75 crore to re -purchase Venkatesh. At present, Venkatesh is the most expensive player in the team.
Rahane, 36, has played 185 matches in the IPL so far. He has scored 4642 runs at an average of 30.14. During this time his strike rate was 123.42. He has scored 2 centuries and 30 half -centuries.
KKR became champion under Shreyas’s captaincy
Last season, Kolkata team captained the captaincy by Shreyas Iyer. Under his captaincy, the team also won the IPL 2024 title. This was the third IPL title of the KKR team. But the franchise released Shreyas Iyer. In such a situation, Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought Shreyas by bidding 26.75 crores in the mega auction and also made the captain of the team.
Kolkata Squad for IPL 2025
Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Venkatesh Iyer (Vice -captain), Sunil Naren Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Varun Chakraborty, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Quinton Dickock, Rehmanullah, Enrichullah, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rowman Powell, Manish Powell, Manish Powell Sisodia, Adhikar Roy, Moin Ali, Umran Malik.
Ajinkya Rahane will play for KKR for the second time
Let me tell you, this will be the second time when Rahane will be seen playing for KKR. Earlier, Kolkata bought Rahane before the 2022 season. That season he got a chance to play in only seven matches, in which he could only score 133 runs. The next season, he joined Chennai Super Kings and scored 326 runs at a strike rate of 172.49 there. Chennai was also able to win the title that year. In that entire season, Rahane played an important role as the top order batsman.
Why Rahane was made captain
KKR CEO Venki Mysore announced this, saying, ‘We are very happy to find a player like Ajinkya Rahane. As a leader, he brings experience and maturity with him. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and has many qualities of leadership. We are confident that they will keep a good synergy between the two to start our title protecting the title.
Kkr will play opening match
KKR will start its Tata IPL 2025 campaign from the first match of the season against Royal Challengers Bangalore at its home-Eden Gardens Stadium on Saturday 22 March. Accepting the role of the captain, Rahane said, ‘It is an honor to lead KKR, one of the most successful franchisees in the IPL. I think we have a great and balanced team. I am eager to work with everyone working with everyone and protect my title.