Venkatesh Iyer, the all-rounder from India, was recently snubbed by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as they all but confirmed Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for the upcoming IPL season. This decision came as a surprise to many, especially after KKR re-signed Iyer with a bid of INR 23.75 crore.
Rahane, who is known for his captaincy skills and famously led India to a historic Test series win in Australia, was picked up by KKR at his base price of INR 1.5 crore during the mega auction in Jeddah. According to a report in the Times of India, it is 90% confirmed that Rahane will lead the team in IPL 2025, as he was specifically bought for his leadership qualities.
This move by KKR comes as a shock, especially considering that Iyer was initially rumored to be the frontrunner for the captaincy role. Iyer, who has spent four years with the team and worked with head coach Chandrakant Pandit in the past, had expressed his willingness to take on the captaincy responsibilities.
Rahane has previous experience as a captain in the IPL, having led the Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and 2019. However, his record with the team was not exceptional, winning only nine out of 24 matches during his tenure. He also captained Mumbai’s T20 side for 26 matches over 13 years, winning 19 games before being replaced by Shreyas Iyer.
If Rahane officially becomes KKR’s skipper, he will replace Shreyas Iyer in that role. It will be interesting to see how Rahane leads the team and whether he can bring success to KKR in the upcoming IPL season.
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