The Kolkata Knight Riders appointed Ajinkya Rahane as their captain earlier this month, concluding months of speculation regarding who would succeed Shreyas Iyer, who was released by the franchise prior to the IPL 2025 auction. While Iyer joined the Punjab Kings, KKR made a significant investment of INR 23.75 crore to reacquire Venkatesh Iyer, leading to conjecture that the all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh might take on a leadership role.

Nevertheless, KKR has placed their trust in the seasoned Rahane as they aim to defend their title. Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra, however, opines that the decision to appoint Rahane as captain may have been an “afterthought.”

In a discussion on his official YouTube channel, Chopra expressed his support for the choice but noted that Rahane's relatively low price tag—being the least among all captains—did not indicate that KKR had intended for him to be their skipper during the auction.

"Ajinkya Rahane has captained in 25 matches so far, so he is not inexperienced. He recently led his team to victory in the SMAT (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) and has served as captain for both Mumbai and India. He has lifted the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and possesses considerable experience, but he has much to prove," Chopra remarked.

"We observed the high prices at which other captains were sold. No other captain was acquired for single-digit amounts; most were retained, and those who were not were sold for substantial sums. In contrast, he was purchased for INR 1.50 crore, which gave the impression that the decision to appoint Ajju as captain was somewhat of an afterthought," he noted.

Never easy

Chopra emphasized that it will be a significant challenge for Rahane to lead a team that is already successful, describing it as a "tougher job" than achieving victory for the first time.

"The primary challenge for Ajju is that he is at the helm of a winning team. The question arises: how do you elevate a team that has already succeeded? The expectation is that they should replicate their previous success or, at the very least, reach the finals again. This is no simple task, as defending a title is considerably more difficult than winning it initially. This will be a crucial issue," he remarked.

KKR is set to kick off the IPL 2025 season on Saturday, facing off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Kolkata.

Read Also: King Khan’s Pep Talk: SRK Inspires KKR & Captain Rahane Ahead of IPL 2025

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!