IPL 2025: The second coming of captain Ajinkya Rahane | Cricket News

Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Ajinkya Rahane, left, and Venkatesh Iyer (Photo Credit: @KKRiders on X)

KOLKATA: From being almost unsold to assuming the defending champions’ captaincy, Ajinkya Rahane’s leap has been of more than just faith. Even though Kolkata Knight Riders would have felt they hit a jackpot when Rahane ended up as the best player in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) tournament, the veteran might have been more relieved than happy.
One of the few players who have remained in the IPL since its inception, he almost missed the bus this time. If the IPL auction provided him a lifeline, SMAT gave him a new lease of life. Having accumulated 432 runs at a strike rate of almost 170, the batter who had gathered the red-ball tag like moss on decaying wood, had once again established his T20 credentials.
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Less than a month prior to that, KKR had pouched Rahane for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore, that too on a second calling. With Shreyas Iyer gone to Punjab Kings, KKR were perhaps hunting for a captain when the unsold Rahane was brought back under the hammer.
The 36-year-old Rahane will also be expected to groom Venkatesh Iyer, six years younger and Rs 22.25 crore costlier, for his shoes. So far, Rahane and Iyer have shared the spotlight almost equally.

“Have nothing to prove” and “Living in the moment” have been Rahane’s take since he accepted the KKR captaincy, but that cannot take away the hurt he would have endured when Rajasthan Royals removed him from the post middway in 2019. Rahane exuded confidence at a KKR event on Wednesday, when the team was introduced to the fans in a grand manner.
“Great to be back, an honour to lead,” the skipper said, typically in a few words. “We have prepared well, and I am happy that everyone (in the team) is on the same page.”
Head coach Chandrakant Pandit echoed Rahane’s sentiment. “It was a special moment to win the trophy (last year),” he said.
Having been overshadowed by Gautam Gambhir last year, the coach is looking ahead to a new season, with some help from mentor Dwyane Bravo. The West Indian in his inimitable way, endorsed Rahane, saying that KKR is ready for another campaign.

“KKR know how to win a championship, now the idea is to defend one,” said Bravo.
Rahane has led 25 times in IPL, 23 of them being with the Royals, although his captaincy record in this tournament is not too flattering, having won only nine games. But the big question remains. Is batter Rahane’s place in the playing XI guaranteed? The issue is up in the air, but as long as he lets his bat do the talking, Rahane will be there. If not, Iyer is always there.