IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane achieves a rare feat in the IPL history

The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season is set to begin on March 22, with teams already assembling their squads for two months of intense cricketing action. The excitement is palpable as fans eagerly await the start of the tournament, which promises to deliver a blend of top-tier cricket, thrilling performances, and high-stakes battles. The IPL 2025 season brings with it a significant change, thanks to the mega-auction held in November 2024. This auction saw several major reshuffles across the teams, with franchises bidding for players who could add strength to their lineups. A number of new faces were brought in, while some familiar ones found new homes.

Ajinkya Rahane will captain KKR in IPL 2025

With franchises making strategic purchases, the dynamics of the tournament are expected to change, making the upcoming season even more unpredictable and exciting. Every team has been busy in finalizing their squads, and the preparation period leading up to the start of the season has been intense. With the combination of experienced international stars, rising domestic talents, and some fresh faces, each squad looks ready to take on the competition. As the season draws near, fans are eagerly speculating about which team will emerge as the victor in this high-octane cricketing extravaganza.

Ajinkya Rahane, the seasoned India batter, has found himself returning to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2025 season after a brief stint with the franchise in 2022. This time, however, Rahane has a new role to embrace — that of the team’s captain. With this appointment, Rahane is set to make history as the first Indian cricketer to captain three different IPL teams, joining an elite group of players who have achieved the same feat. Before Rahane, only a handful of cricketers had captained three IPL franchises, including former Sri Lankan captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, as well as Australian batter Steve Smith. Rahane’s appointment to lead KKR adds a significant layer of experience to the team, given his vast IPL experience and leadership capabilities.

Rahane, known for his calm demeanor and astute cricketing mind, is expected to bring a sense of stability and guidance to the young KKR squad. As he steps into this new role, the pressure will be on him to inspire the team and lead them toward success in what is expected to be a competitive IPL season. His leadership journey will be closely watched as KKR fans hope that this new chapter for Rahane results in a promising campaign for the franchise in IPL 2025.

Most teams captained in the history of IPL

Ajinkya Rahane, the 36-year-old Mumbai batter, has previously captained Rising Pune Supergiants and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. With his appointment as the Kolkata Knight Riders captain for the IPL 2025 season, Rahane is poised to make history as the first Indian cricketer to captain three different IPL teams. He will achieve this milestone on the opening night of the season, when KKR takes on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday.

Rahane’s leadership journey has been a testament to his calm and composed approach, and his wealth of experience in the IPL will be invaluable for KKR. As he leads the team into the new season, fans will be eager to see how he steers the squad, with expectations high for a successful campaign. Rahane’s record-breaking appointment adds another exciting dimension to IPL 2025. Earlier this week, Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore explained the rationale behind appointing Ajinkya Rahane as the captain for IPL 2025 instead of Venkatesh Iyer, who has been named vice-captain. Mysore emphasized the intense nature of an IPL season, noting the immense pressure and numerous commitments that come with captaining a franchise. The KKR management felt that it would be too much to place such a heavy burden on the relatively young shoulders of Iyer, despite his growing prominence as a player.

Mysore further acknowledged Rahane’s wealth of experience and leadership qualities, which made him the ideal candidate to lead the team through the challenges of a high-stakes IPL season. Rahane’s calm demeanor, tactical acumen, and vast IPL experience were key factors in the decision, as KKR looks to have a steady hand at the helm. Iyer, meanwhile, has been entrusted with the role of vice-captain, allowing him to develop further in a leadership capacity while also contributing significantly as a player. This strategic move by the KKR management ensures that the team has the right leadership balance, with Rahane bringing his experience to the forefront while providing Iyer the opportunity to learn and grow under his guidance. The team will now look forward to a successful campaign with this leadership structure in place.

"IPL is quite an intense tournament. We think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people facing challenges with it as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, a lot of maturity, and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him," KKR CEO Venky Mysore said.