Why Did KKR Choose Ajinkya Rahane as Captain Over Venkatesh Iyer? Former KKR Star Explains
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Shivam Mavi believes that the franchise has long-term plans for Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer as their future captain. However, for now, they have chosen Ajinkya Rahane to lead the team so that Venkatesh can gain valuable experience under his mentorship.
KKR’s Captaincy Decision
Defending IPL champions KKR were unable to retain last season’s skipper Shreyas Iyer, who was bought by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Instead, KKR opted for the experienced Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain, with Venkatesh Iyer as his deputy.
In an exclusive chat with Cricxtasy, Shivam Mavi explained the reasoning behind this decision:
“Venkatesh hasn’t captained in the IPL yet, so they made Rahane bhai the captain so that Venkatesh can learn under him. Later, when Rahane is no longer around, they might hand over the captaincy to him.”
Rahane’s Strong Start to IPL 2025
Ajinkya Rahane started the new season on a high, scoring a brilliant 56 off 31 balls in the opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He formed a crucial 103-run partnership off 49 balls with Sunil Narine. The 36-year-old had also finished as the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 469 runs from eight matches at a strike rate of 164.
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A Learning Opportunity for Venkatesh Iyer
Mavi believes that if Rahane remains with KKR for the next three years, Venkatesh will have ample time to develop his leadership skills.
“Leading a state team and captaining an IPL franchise are completely different experiences. If Venkatesh continues to learn from Rahane, KKR might eventually make him captain. This could be part of their long-term strategy,” Mavi added.
Despite Rahane’s impressive knock in the season opener, KKR struggled as the rest of the batting lineup faltered, managing only 174/8 in 20 overs. RCB, led by Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 59 off 36 balls, chased the target comfortably with seven wickets in hand and 22 balls to spare.
