3 Reasons Why KKR appointed Ajinkya Rahane as new captain for IPL 2025

In what seems to be a surprising and quite bold move for the cricket experts and fans of the game, the defending IPL champions KKR have announced their new captain for the upcoming IPL 2025. KKR CEO Venky Mysore made this announcement on Monday, March 3 and named the veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane as the team’s new skipper ahead of the tournament’s 18th edition.

Earlier in the previous edition in 2024, KKR won the title under the captaincy of the star India batter Shreyas Iyer. They will be eyeing continuing the same performance under the leadership of newly appointed skipper Rahane. 

Given that, here we’ll discuss the 3 reasons behind KKR’s decision to appoint Ajinkya Rahane as the new skipper for the Indian Premier League 2025.

Also Read: IPL 2025: BCCI issues strict guidelines and restrictions on all teams ahead of new season

Here are 3 reasons why KKR appointed Ajinkya Rahane as skipper for IPL 2025: 

Led Mumbai to SMAT 2025 Title Win 

Ajinkya Rahane led his home team, Mumbai, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 (SMAT 2024-25). The team maintained their sheer dominance throughout the entire edition of the tournament. Mumbai won the glorious domestic T20 tournament, beating Madhya Pradesh by a 5-wicket margin in the tournament’s summit clash. 

In the entire tournament, Ajinkya Rahane-led Mumbai played a total of 9 matches, including six league-stage matches and three knockout games. In these nine games, they won eight games while losing only one throughout the entire tournament. So, it will be a big positive for KKR while playing in IPL 2025 under Rahane’s captaincy. 

Previous Association with KKR

It will not be the first time when Rahane will be seen in the KKR colours in the Indian Premier League. Earlier in the 2022 edition of the tournament, he was a part of the KKR squad, playing seven matches in the tournament, including the highest score of ’44 runs in a game.’ 

With that said, it can also be understood that Rahane is well aware of the core leadership of KKR and how the team management thinks or works. So, it will be quite convenient for both the KKR management and Rahane to work together. 

Ability to play mentor to young players 

Notably, the veteran batter is one of the very few cricketers who have been in action in the Indian Premier League since the tournament’s first season in 2008. He has played for six teams in his 17-year-long IPL career. Rahane has played 185 matches in all the years of his career in the league.

He has 4642 runs in 171 innings, with an average of 30.14, hitting two centuries and 30 half-centuries. Owing to his vast experience, Rahane will also be there to play the role of a mentor for the young players in the KKR squad. Rahane playing the role of a mentor, alongside being the skipper, will play a vital role in the team’s successful run in the tournament. 

Also Read: IPL 2025: Tournament opener between KKR and RCB, Reliving the game when two teams clashed in IPL 2008 opener