Ajinkya Rahane, who was not even a first-choice option at the beginning, has been entrusted with the captaincy of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The champions purchased Rahane at his minimum price in the fast-tracked round of the auction, and though he may not have been an outright starter, he will now lead from the front. The experienced batsman will stabilize the top order, and then there is the destructive batting talent of Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh.
Knowledge of KKR and Chandrakant Pandit
Despite switching teams from Chennai Super Kings to KKR, Rahane brings prior experience with the franchise, having been part of the squad in 2022. This familiarity, coupled with his past association with head coach Chandrakant Pandit from Mumbai’s domestic cricket setup, could work in his favor. KKR will be looking to avoid a post-title slump and remain competitive in the league.
“Chandu sir and I, we used to work together when Chandu sir was with Mumbai team, and I know his ways. I mean, he’s, he’s very disciplined, very focused, and he knows how to bring out the best in every individual,” Rahane said during a KKR press conference last Thursday.
Changes in Leadership and Support Staff
Last year, the leadership at KKR was provided by Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate. With Gambhir joining the coaching ranks of the Indian team now, KKR has recruited Dwayne Bravo and Ottis Gibson as the top backroom personnel. Though the leadership has altered, the team is otherwise intact. Rahane’s flexibility to absorb newer members and fit them into the team will be instrumental in helping KKR retain their title.
“So for me, it’s always about having that good communication with our players, giving them that freedom on the field to express themselves and try and understand each other,” Rahane added.
Squad Composition and Key Players
KKR invested heavily in Venkatesh Iyer, a reward for his performances in last season’s qualifiers and final. He will inherit the No. 4 spot that was held by Shreyas Iyer, last season’s IPL champion captain. Quinton de Kock comes in to replace Phil Salt as wicketkeeper-batsman, with pace additions Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje beefing up the side following Mitchell Starc’s departure.
Questions remain regarding Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s role and Sunil Narine’s batting position. Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy, both fresh off impactful international seasons, will be in the spotlight, particularly Rana, following a standout year.
Tactical Adjustments and Leadership Challenges
If Rahane is to bat at the top, KKR may rethink Narine’s position in the order. Vaibhav Arora, Nortje, and Rana’s death overs performances, and Rahane’s form himself, will go a long way in deciding KKR’s quest. Though the team looks capable of fighting it out for a playoff position, how effective the new leadership unit is continues to be a decisive factor.
KKR Team for IPL 2025
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rovman Powell, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Ramandeep Singh, Mayank Markande, Vaibhav Arora, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodiya, Chetan Sakariya
