Kolkata Knight Riders Set Sights on Back-to-Back IPL Titles with Captain Ajinkya Rahane at the Helm

New Delhi: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions of the TATA IPL, are all set to embark on the 2025 season with a new sense of determination under fresh leadership. In a recent press conference, the team's new captain, Ajinkya Rahane, along with mentor Dwayne Bravo, head coach Chandrakant Pandit, and vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, shared their insights on the upcoming season and the team's preparations. Rahane, who has taken on the role of captaincy for the reigning champions, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. "Leading this incredible franchise is truly an honor for me. I am immensely thankful to the management for entrusting me with this responsibility," said Rahane.

The experienced batter acknowledged the challenge of defending the title but remained focused on the immediate future: “For me it is always about keeping it simple… We will obviously give our best this season.”

When asked about his batting position, Rahane emphasized a team-first mentality, “I have always played wherever the team wanted me to play. Team thinking has always come first.”
Mentor Dwayne Bravo outlined his approach to continuing the team’s success, “It would be disrespectful of me to try to change some of the good things from the last season,” Bravo explained.

He also expressed his enthusiasm about working with team owner Shah Rukh Khan: “It’s good to have a boss like Shah Rukh who is definitely really invested in the game… That energy and that vibe, I’m going to try to bring that here as well.”

Vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer, who commanded a significant price at the auction, was excited about working with Bravo. “He’s been the most successful T20 player in history, so he brings a lot of experience to the table,” said Iyer. “Nothing can beat experience. He’s played so many games; he’s won so many games for West Indies and the franchises that he’s played for.”

When questioned about handling the pressure of his price tag, Iyer took a pragmatic approach, “It exists. You can’t ignore it altogether, but when the TATA IPL starts, it really doesn’t matter. You’re a part of a playing XI, a part of a team that is going out there to win.”

Head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who has worked with Rahane previously, spoke about the team’s preparation for their opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22. “Every match is different, and we have been preparing since the Mumbai camp and now we have started the camp here as well… we are going to play as hard as possible.”

Regarding the team composition, Pandit highlighted the confidence gained from international experience, “The advantage that we’re going to get is the confidence level that they’re going to carry from the international level to KKR.”

The team is looking forward to playing at their home ground, with Rahane noting: “It’s good to be back at Eden Gardens and we always love to play at Eden Gardens. The atmosphere, the energy, the passion which all the fans have.”

With a strong core of retained players, experienced leadership, and the backing of passionate fans at Eden Gardens, KKR appears well-positioned to defend their title in the upcoming TATA IPL 2025 season.

About Kolkata Knight Riders

The Knight Riders brand is a global brand in International Cricket, with eight trophies to its name and four professional franchises under its wings – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the TATA IPL, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in UAE’s International League T20 and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in USA’s Major League Cricket, making it one of the most versatile brands in T20 cricket globally.

KKR has made four appearances in the TATA IPL final, winning the championship thrice (2012, 2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament’s history. TKR’s Men’s Team has won the CPL championship 4 times in 10 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise. They are the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold a unique feat of having won the trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the whole tournament. TKR Women, the Knight Riders’ first ever Women’s Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.

For many years now, the Knight Riders Academy has been actively scouting talented cricketers from across India and around the world. The sole objective of the Academy is to identify and help cricketers make an overall round-the-year improvement in their cricketing skills and fitness.