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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, made strategic decisions at the 2025 mega auction, prioritizing the retention of key players while strengthening their squad with new additions. Their aggressive playing style, defined by explosive batting and tactical gameplay, was further reinforced by the acquisitions of Quinton de Kock and Rovman Powell. Additionally, the franchise secured the return of young talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi for INR 3 crores, emphasizing their commitment to blending experience with youth.
Leadership void after Shreyas Iyer’s departure
However, amid these reinforcements, KKR faces a crucial challenge -finding a captain to replace Shreyas Iyer, who played a vital role in their championship-winning campaign but has now moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has analyzed KKR’s potential captaincy options, ruling out Ajinkya Rahane and casting doubt on Rinku Singh‘s chances. The franchise took a bold step by releasing Iyer and not bidding to reacquire him at the auction, leaving a leadership gap. While Rahane was picked up for a modest INR 1.50 crore and Rinku was retained for INR 13 crore, Chopra believed neither will be entrusted with the captaincy. He acknowledged Rahane’s strong domestic performances but dismissed his prospects as a leader for KKR. Similarly, despite Rinku’s emergence as a reliable finisher and a leader for Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket, Chopra speculated that the franchise might explore other captaincy alternatives.
“They bought Ajinkya Rahane right at the end. His first-class form has been very good and he played extremely well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too. So it seems like you can make Ajinkya Rahane your captain. I don’t think Ajinkya Rahane will be in their thought process. I don’t think Ajinkya Rahane is their captain. It should be a two-horse race. It has to be either Venkatesh Iyer or Rinku Singh. In my opinion, Rinku Singh’s stocks should have increased. He is UP’s captain and is a proper player. However, it doesn’t seem like they would make him their captain as well,” Chopra said on his Youtube channel.
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The frontrunner for KKR captaincy? Aakash Chopra’s ultimate choice
KKR made a headline-grabbing move by securing Venkatesh Iyer for a record INR 23.75 crore, making him one of the most expensive players in IPL history.
Chopra questioned whether the franchise overspent, suggesting that they could have acquired proven leaders like Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, or Rishabh Pant for a similar amount. However, he speculated that the high price tag might indicate KKR’s intention to appoint Venkatesh as their new captain. The intense bidding war with RCB to secure him further highlighted KKR’s confidence in his leadership potential. Given the significant investment, it would not be surprising if the franchise hands Venkatesh the captaincy, marking a defining phase in both his career and KKR’s journey.
“You went all guns blazing and spent so much money on Venkatesh Iyer that you suddenly feel whether you spent too much. You might have got even Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan or a few other players for that much. There were plenty of options available in the auction. However, they went with Venkatesh Iyer. They kept going a long way for him. In fact, they were having a fight with RCB. In the end, they got him and I think he could be their captain. When you have invested so much money in someone, Venkatesh Iyer might be KKR’s captain,” Chopra concluded.
