Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL)with three titles, has seen multiple captains lead the team over the years. With Ajinkya Rahane appointed as the new captain for IPL 2025 and Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain, here’s a look at KKR’s leadership journey since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
KKR Captains Over the Years
• Sourav Ganguly (2008 & 2010): The legendary Sourav Ganguly was KKR’s first captain, leading the team in 27 matches across two seasons, winning 13 games. Despite his aggressive style, KKR struggled in the early years.
• Brendon McCullum (2009): The Kiwi batter, famous for his 158 in the first-ever IPL match*, captained KKR in 2009, but the team had a disappointing season, winning only 3 out of 13 matches.
• Gautam Gambhir (2011-2017): KKR’s most successful captain, Gautam Gambhir, transformed the team and led them to two IPL titles (2012 & 2014). With 69 wins in 122 matches, his leadership remains a benchmark in KKR’s history.
• Jacques Kallis (2011): The South African all-rounder briefly captained two matches, winning one before Gambhir took full charge.
• Dinesh Karthik (2018-2020): Karthik led KKR for three seasons, securing 19 wins in 37 matches, but stepped down midway through IPL 2020.
• Eoin Morgan (2020-2021): Taking over from Karthik, Eoin Morgan guided KKR to the 2021 IPL final, registering 11 wins in 24 games.
• Shreyas Iyer (2022 & 2024): Iyer, with a 58.62% win rate, captained KKR in 29 matches, winning 17. He also led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024, though injuries impacted his tenure.
• Nitish Rana (2023): With Iyer injured, Nitish Rana led KKR in 2023, winning 6 out of 14 matches before Iyer’s return.
Rahane Takes Charge in IPL 2025
Now, with Ajinkya Rahane at the helm, KKR fans will be hoping for continued success in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. His experience and calm leadership could play a crucial role in KKR’s title defense.
