It would be a surprising decision by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to appoint Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for IPL 2025. The right-handed batter wasn’t even initially picked by the franchise; he was bought in the acceleration round at his base price of Rs. 1.5 crore. Given that KKR chose not to retain their former captain Shreyas Iyer and instead invested Rs. 23.75 crore in Venkatesh Iyer, it’s unclear why they would opt for Rahane as their leader.
3 reasons why Ajinkya Rahane should become KKR captain for IPL 2025
Ajinkya Rahane form & leadership
Rahane had a disappointing performance in the previous IPL season while playing for CSK, scoring only 242 runs in 13 matches at a low average of 20.17. The player has been out of the international team for over a year, with no positive signs of a return to the Indian squad. While he scored a fifty in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he will need a bigger innings to regain attention.
Rahane does not have much experience in leading a team. He captained Rajasthan Royals for two seasons (2017-2019) in 25 matches, winning only nine of them.
Rahane uncertain in the team
Rahane’s spot in the team remains uncertain, making reports of him being appointed captain hard to believe. He first needs to secure his place in the squad, which will require strong performances in domestic cricket. KKR already has a solid top order with Sunil Narine, Ankrish Raghuvanshi, Quinton de Kock, and Venkatesh Iyer, making it challenging for Ajinkya Rahane to find a place in the top order.
Other players have more petential
KKR has other players with more potential than Rahane to become captain. Andre Russell is a more feasible option for the franchise, as he has been associated with the team for a much longer period. They could also consider Venkatesh Iyer for the role, given the hefty price they paid for him. Players who are certain of their place in the team should be given the responsibility of leading the side.
