Kolkata Knight Riders released their title winning captain, Shreyas Iyer into the auction ahead of the 2025 season and were on the lookout for a new skipper through the auction. As a result, they brought back Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane among others to the team.
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As per the latest report by Times of India, the 1.5 crore buy from the auction, Ajinkya Rahane has emerged as the frontrunner for the captaincy role for the Knight Riders.
The Sporting News dives deep into the potential captaincy options for KKR in IPL 2025.
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Who will captain KKR in IPL 2025?
Following are the potential captaincy options for the Knight Riders in order, of players who are most likely to be given the responsibility:
1. Venkatesh Iyer:
Venkatesh Iyer was Kolkata Knight Riders' most expensive buy after they released him in the auction post retentions. He was brought back for 23.75 crores after a cutthroat bid-war between RCB and KKR.
Iyer will be the most likely option to be given the captaincy as he walks straight into the XI and has a good cricketing brain to handle different situations.
2. Rinku Singh:
Rinku was retained by KKR as their first player for 13 crore and is one of the most important core members of the team who will definitely play all the matches in the season.
With enough experience at the domestic level to lead a side aided by help from senior pros around him and a seasoned coach, Chandrakant Pandit at the helm, the UP star is a good candidate to lead the side in the future as well.
3. Ajinkya Rahane:
Rahane is one of the finest leaders in Indian cricket in the past decade who has led many sides to glory including India in the last away Border Gavaskar Trophy and Mumbai in the last Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup.
However, a place in the first XI is not certain for the experienced campaigner and is best suited for a backup role but with the recent reports, he is an emerging option for KKR captaincy.
4. Quinton de Kock:
Quinton de Kock fits the bill of being an experienced player and a sure shot starter with previous captaincy experience and could as well be a candidate for KKR.
However, he had previously quit South Africa's captaincy role in a mutual decision with the board as the leadership role might have been a "burden" and affected his batting performances.
and therefore, it would not be ideal for him to take up the role at his new franchise, but he is nonetheless an option for the Knight Riders.
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5. Rovman Powell:
The West Indies T20I captain is a very good option to lead any side at this point in time. A more than reliable middle-order option and someone who knows how to lead a side in and out.
However, with the likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock as sure shot starters, there only remains one overseas spot to be filled and with Nortje in the side, it would be unlikely that Powell plays all the games.
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