Ajinkya Rahane named KKR captain, Venkatesh Iyer will be VC for IPL 2025

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced Ajinkya Rahane as their captain and Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The franchise, defending their IPL title, will begin their campaign on March 22 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. KKR had released their previous captain, Shreyas Iyer, ahead of the 2025 mega auction, creating a leadership vacancy.

Rahane, 36, rejoined KKR after being acquired for ₹1.5 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. The Mumbai batter previously played for KKR in 2022 and was part of Chennai Super Kings' IPL-winning squad in 2023. He had an impressive domestic season, leading Mumbai to victory in the Irani Cup and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he topped the batting charts with 469 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 164.56.

Venkatesh Iyer, who has been a key player for KKR in recent years, was initially released before the 2025 auction but was bought back by the franchise for ₹23.75 crore. His bid made him the third-most expensive Indian player in IPL history. The all-rounder has been a consistent performer for KKR, contributing both with the bat and ball, and has now been entrusted with a leadership role as vice-captain.

"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,” said KKR CEO Venky Mysore in a statement.

Accepting the captaincy, Rahane stated, “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.”