Venkatesh Iyer 'ready' to captain KKR in IPL 2025
What's the story
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has said that he would like to lead the side in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. KKR, the defending champions, have not announced their new leader for the impending season. The 2025 IPL auction saw KKR shell out a whopping ₹23.75 crore for Iyer, leading to speculation of a captaincy role for the player.
Leadership views
Iyer's perspective on leadership and captaincy
In a recent chat with ESPNcricinfo, Iyer said, "Definitely, I'm ready. Again, I've always said this: captaincy is just a tag. I believe in leadership. That is a bigger role to play, being a leader." He further stressed that there's no confusion about his willingness to take up the role if offered.
Role model
Stance on setting an example
Iyer believes a captain needs to "set an example" by being a "good role model." He shared his current experience with the Madhya Pradesh team, where despite not being the captain, his opinions are respected. He emphasized the importance of creating an environment where everyone has the freedom to voice their opinion and give suggestions.
Career trajectory
Iyer joined KKR in 2021
Iyer, who joined the Knight Riders in 2021, was released before last year's auction. However, he was bought back by the franchise for a hefty ₹23.75 crore this year. He is among the top contenders for the captaincy role along Ajinkya Rahane, who has led Team India and in the IPL. Notably, KKR decided against retaining their 2024 title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer, who was picked up by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore.
Journey
A look at his IPL journey
Having played 50 IPL games, Venkatesh has scored 1,326 runs at 31.57. The tally includes 11 fifties and a ton. In 2023, he became the second centurion for KKR after Brendon McCullum, who smashed a record-breaking century in IPL's first-ever encounter. Iyer scored 104 off 51 balls against five-time champions Mumbai Indians. Sunil Narine is KKR's only other centurion to date.