As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 approaches, speculation about the captaincy of the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), continues to build. Following the departure of Shreyas Iyer, who has taken on the leadership role at Punjab Kings (PBKS), KKR are yet to announce their new captain. Amidst this uncertainty, Venkatesh Iyer, the talented all-rounder, has emerged as a strong contender for the position.
Venkatesh Iyer’s cricketing experience
Venkatesh Iyer joined KKR in 2021 and has since become an integral part of the team, scoring 1,326 runs in 51 matches. His impressive performance and commitment to the franchise were highlighted when KKR bought him back for a whopping amount of INR 23.75 crore in the recent auction. Despite having no prior experience in competitive cricket captaincy, Iyer’s enthusiasm and leadership qualities have made him a top candidate for the role, alongside former India captain Ajinkya Rahane.
Is Iyer ready to lead KKR?
When asked about his readiness to captain KKR, Iyer was unequivocal. “Definitely, I’m ready,” he stated in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.
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The 30-year-old emphasized that captaincy is merely a tag and that true leadership involves setting examples and being a good role model both on and off the field. He noted that one does not necessarily need the title of captain to be a leader in the dressing room, highlighting his current role in Madhya Pradesh, where his opinions are respected despite not holding the captaincy position.
“I believe in leadership. That is a bigger role to play, being a leader. You don’t necessarily need the tag of a captain to be a leader in your dressing room. You need to set examples. You need to be a good role model, both on and off the field, which I am doing right now in MP,” Iyer explained.
The Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening match of IPL 2025 on March 22 at Eden Gardens. With less than a month to go before the tournament begins, the announcement of a new captain is eagerly anticipated.