Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their new captain for IPL 2025.
Rahane replaces Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to their third IPL title last season. In the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, KKR released their winning captain, Shreyas Iyer.
Rahane Captanicy Records in IPL
Ajinkya Rahane brings captaincy experience, having previously led Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants in a total of 25 IPL matches. However, his IPL win percentage stands at just 36%.
| Matches | Matches Won | Matches Loss | Winning Percentage | No Results/Tie |
| 25 | 9 | 16 | 36% | 0 |
Under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership, Rajasthan Royals reached the IPL 2018 playoffs.
List of KKR Captains in IPL
Ajinkya Rahane becomes the 8th captain in KKR’s IPL history. KKR is one of the most successful franchises, having won three IPL titles—2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir and 2024 under Shreyas Iyer. Rahane will aim to continue KKR’s winning streak.
- Sourav Ganguly
- Brendon McCullum
- Gautam Gambhir
- Dinesh Karthik
- Eoin Morgan
- Shreyas Iyer
- Nitish Rana
- Ajinkya Rahane
Venkatesh Iyer has been appointed as KKR vice-captain for IPL 2025. In the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, KKR bought him for a massive Price INR 23 crore.
Why was Venkatesh Iyer not appointed as KKR captain?
Lack of Captaincy Experince
Venkatesh Iyer has never captained in domestic cricket. His Madhya Pradesh domestic team is led by Rajat Patidar, who has now been appointed as RCB’s new captain for IPL 2025.
Venkatesh Iyer will have the opportunity to learn from a seasoned campaigner, Ajinkya Rahane, as he takes on the role of vice-captain for KKR in IPL 2025.Rahane is a safe choice for captaincy, given his years of IPL experience, prior leadership roles, and calm, composed temperament. While Rahane leads the team now, KKR recognizes Venkatesh Iyer as a key part of their future, making his appointment as vice-captain a strategic move.
