Venkatesh Iyer ready but KKR weighs captaincy options ahead of IPL 2025

Two action-packed days of the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah have sealed the deal for the franchises for seasons ahead. The mega auction staged some significant transformations in the respective squads. The seeds for some of these major transformations were, however, sown ahead of the auction. No one would have anticipated the recent title champions to fiddle with their core, and yet KKR did the same. The IPL 2024 champions did not retain their trophy-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer for the next edition. With Iyer’s exit, KKR’s key goal for the IPL 2025 mega auction would have been to pick a captaincy candidate. However, despite splurging big in Jeddah, there still looms uncertainty over their future leading face in the league.

Ahead of the IPL auction, KKR opted for Rinku Singh as their first-choice retention. After retaining the swashbuckling batter for ₹13 crore, the franchise then filled in three of the five remaining retention places with spinner Varun Chakravarthy and the West Indies duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. The three were retained for ₹12 crore each. With an option to retain up to two uncapped players, KKR used up all the retention slabs by further retaining seamer Harshit Rana and all-rounder Ramandeep Singh for ₹4 crore each. While it was reported that KKR and Shreyas Iyer had already walked different paths, the franchise still had the likes of Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana to reclaim in the mega auction.

"We have to take stock": KKR management still not clear about captaincy prospects for IPL 2025

The mega auction witnessed KKR parting ways with many of their mainstays. Mitchell Starc, who became the highest-paid player ever when KKR bought him for ₹23 crore in the IPL 2024 mini auction, couldn’t join KKR back this time. While KKR fought for the Australian pacer against the likes of DC and MI, the defending champions stepped back when the bid touched ₹10 crore. Starc was eventually snapped up by DC for ₹11.75 crore. Moreover, KKR also let go of the likes of Phil Salt and Nitish Rana at the auction.

However, the franchise went all in for Venkatesh Iyer as there seemed to be no limit when the bidding war started. RCB, otherwise quite composed in the auction, engaged in the fiery battle for the all-rounder. But Venkatesh Iyer was reclaimed by KKR for a whopping ₹23.75 crore. Other than Iyer, KKR bought Quinton de Kock, Ajinkya Rahane, and Manish Pandey.

With the price spent on the all-rounder, it is likely for him to take on the captaincy role in IPL 2025. However, when asked about the same, KKR’s owner, Venky Mysore, explained that the management will discuss the course ahead. Mysore expressed that the franchise needs to weigh its options ahead of the next edition.

“Well, you know that. To be honest, we have to sit down and take stock. Sometimes what happens is, after you've done all of these things, you just have to sit down, reflect, look at the whole thing. There are stakeholders and parts of the think tank who won't be here. So we'll all sit down and have a proper chat about that, and I'm sure a proper decision will be made," Mysore said.

Venkatesh Iyer ready to take the leading responsibility of the team 

Venkatesh Iyer has been a vital member of KKR since 2021, as the all-rounder quickly picked up a reputation for being one of the key and consistent performers for the team. However, while he briefly captained the side during Nitish Rana's injury last season, his leadership experience remains limited. KKR, however, has a history of entrusting captaincy to their dependable players, as seen with Rana in 2023 when he stepped in for Shreyas Iyer. Moreover, Venkatesh Iyer expressed a desire to evolve his role within the camp from IPL 2025 onwards.

The 29-year-old talked at length about how he filled in for Shreyas Iyer during his injury and has been the vice-captain of the side. The all-rounder then explained his idea of captaining a team and said he would be ‘more than happy’ to take up the responsibility.

"I had the opportunity to captain the side in Nitish Rana's absence when he was unfortunately injured, and I was the vice-captain as well," said Venkatesh. "I've always believed that captaincy is just a tag, but leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels they can play for this team and contribute. If given the responsibility, I would be more than happy to take it on. Absolutely (I'm ready for it),” he added.

However, as Venky Mysore put a discussion in line ahead of the announcement, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane, who returned to KKR at his base price of ₹1.5 crore, could also be a contender for the captaincy. A seasoned IPL campaigner and a proven leader, Rahane famously captained India to their historic Border Gavaskar Trophy victory in 2020-21. After reviving his T20 career with Chennai Super Kings, where he thrived in the No. 3 role, Rahane's experience and adaptability might make him a valuable addition to the playing XI.