Kolkata Knight Riders’ CEO Venky Mysore has opened up about the franchise’s decision to appoint Ajinkya Rahane as captain instead of young all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. According to Mysore, captaincy demands a level of maturity and experience that can be overwhelming for a younger player, leading KKR to place their trust in Rahane’s leadership.
Rahane was among the frontrunners for the leadership role, along with Venkatesh Iyer, who had initially been released after IPL 2024 but was later brought back by Kolkata at the IPL 2025 mega-auction for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore.
“IPL is quite an intense tournament. We think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward,” Mysore explained while speaking to a sports portal.
“It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” he added, highlighting the rationale behind the franchise’s decision.
The change in leadership comes after Shreyas Iyer successfully led KKR to the IPL 2024 title. However, the franchise was unable to retain him as he opted to enter the IPL 2025 mega-auction, where he was eventually bought by the Punjab Kings.
Rahane’s path to captaincy wasn’t straightforward. The veteran batter, who was the first player to go under the hammer on the second day of the IPL 2025 mega auction in November, initially went unsold. But in a dramatic twist, KKR secured him at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore towards the end of the auction when teams were allowed to recall specific unsold players.
This marks Rahane’s second stint with Kolkata Knight Riders, having previously played seven matches for them in IPL 2022, a season in which KKR finished seventh. Over the years, Rahane has represented six different franchises in the IPL and remains part of an elite group of cricketers who have been involved in the league since its inception 17 years ago.
With experience on his side, Rahane now has the responsibility of leading KKR as they look to defend their title in IPL 2025. Whether this decision will pay off remains to be seen, but KKR has certainly made a bold and calculated move in prioritizing stability over experimentation.
