The 18th season of IPL 2025 is set to begin on March 22, with the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, going up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match. With just a few weeks remaining until the tournament kicks off, KKR has yet to announce its new captain. In the 2024, the team won the trophy under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, but he has now been bought by Punjab Kings. On the other hand, KKR has resigned Venkatesh Iyer for 23.75 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.
Venkatesh Iyer is an Indian cricketer who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket and Kolkata Knights Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Recently, Venkatesh Iyer has expressed his desire to captain KKR in the IPL if given the opportunity. He says that although he has no prior experience of captaincy at any level of competitive cricket, he is ready to take on the responsibility if he gets the chance to lead the team in the IPL.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Venkatesh Iyer said, I have always maintained that captaincy is just a title, I believe in leadership. It is a big responsibility! There are many instances where even without being the captain, you can be a leader in the dressing room. You have to set examples and be a good role model both on and off the field.
He further says, “I am not the captain of the Madhya Pradesh team, but I still contribute there. My opinions are valued, and I have always aspired to be that kind of person. If I am given the opportunity to captain, I will definitely take on the role, and there is no reason for me to decline it.”
In 2023, Venkatesh Iyer scored his maiden IPL century against Mumbai Indians, smashing 104 runs off 51 balls. With this achievement, he became the second batsman to score a century for KKR. Iyer made his debut in 2021, and since then, he has played in various batting positions, from the top order to the lower middle order. In 51 matches, he has scored 1,326 runs at a strike rate of 137 for Kolkata Knights Riders (KKR).
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