Ajinkya Rahane, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of INR 1.5 crore, is expected to lead the defending champions in the upcoming IPL season. The veteran batter does not have a good record as captain in IPL; his last captained match was in 2019.
As reported by The Times of India, three-time IPL champions KKR purchased Rahane during the two-day auction in Jeddah, citing him as a “strong captaincy option.” KKR went all out to acquire Venkatesh Iyer for an impressive INR 23.75 crore, while Rahane is likely to return as an IPL captain after a six-year break.
Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t been captaining any side recently, as he played under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Rahane captained the Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, managing only 9 wins in 24 matches, which left the team unable to reach the playoffs.
Rahane also showcased his leadership skills by captaining India to one of their most historic Test victories against Australia at the Gabba in 2021, a match that ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue and secured a memorable series win for India. His record with the Indian aide has been good, but he lacks results in the T20 leagues.
A source close to the franchise said, “Yes, at the moment it’s 90% confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option.”
The seasoned cricketer has featured in 185 IPL matches, amassing 4,642 runs at a strike rate of 123.42. In the past two IPL seasons, Ajinkya Rahane has been a key contributor to Chennai Super Kings’ middle order, consistently delivering valuable performances in crucial moments. Apart from this, he has also been a part of franchises like the Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Rising Pune Supergiants (not existing now).
There are also rumors that Venkatesh Iyer, bought by KKR for a record INR 23.75 crore, might also be in the running for captain. However, the team hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
