KKR New Captain 2025: Ajinkya Rahane to Lead, Venkatesh Iyer as Deputy

Kolkata Knight Riders have named Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League. Rahane, who previously led the Rajasthan Royals, will now take charge of the defending champions. Venkatesh Iyer will be his deputy.

Rahane, who won the IPL 2023 title with Chennai Super Kings, joined KKR for his base price of ₹1.50 crore in the IPL 2025 mega-auction. KKR needed a new captain after parting ways with Shreyas Iyer before the auction.

"It’s an honour to be asked to lead KKR, which has been one of the most successful franchises in the IPL. I think we have an excellent and balanced squad. I look forward to working with everyone and taking up the challenge of defending our title," Ajinkya Rahane said after being named as the skipper in a KKR release.

Rahane's record as an IPL captain isn't strong. He led the Rajasthan Royals in 24 matches and the Rising Pune Supergiants in one game, winning just nine out of 25 matches and losing 16. He is also currently not part of the Indian team in any format.

MEET THE NEW CAPTAIN OF DEFENDING CHAMPIONS KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS 💜

- It's Ajinkya Rahane. ©️ pic.twitter.com/9NxWbfISdN

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 3, 2025

However, he has been in excellent form in domestic cricket. Rahane was Mumbai's top scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 469 runs in nine innings at an average of 58.62. He also led Mumbai to the Ranji Trophy semifinals, where their campaign ended against eventual champions Vidarbha. He regained form late in the tournament, scoring a century against Haryana in the quarterfinals.

KKR CEO Venky Mysore shared his thoughts on the appointment. "We are delighted to have someone like Ajinkya Rahane, who brings his experience and maturity as a leader. Also, Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for KKR and brings a lot of leadership qualities. We are confident that they will combine well as we start the defense of our title," Mysore said.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025 Schedule: Full List of Matches, Fixtures, Dates, Venues, and Timings