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As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season gears up for its March 22 start, a significant milestone is on the horizon. Ajinkya Rahane, the seasoned Indian batter, is all set to become the first Indian player to captain three different IPL teams after being appointed as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper for the upcoming season.
With this achievement, Rahane joins an elite list of four players overall to have led three different IPL franchises. The other three are:
| Player | Teams Captained |
|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara | Punjab Kings, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Mahela Jayawardene | Punjab Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Delhi Capitals |
| Steve Smith | Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals |
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Rahane’s Captaincy Journey in IPL
🔹 Rising Pune Super Giants (2017) – Stepped up as skipper when Steve Smith was unavailable.
🔹 Rajasthan Royals (2018-2019) – Led RR for two seasons before being replaced by Steve Smith.
🔹 Kolkata Knight Riders (2025) – Set to make history by captaining his third franchise in IPL 2025.
The 36-year-old Mumbai batter will officially take charge of KKR on the opening night of the season against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22 at Eden Gardens.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore Explains Rahane’s Captaincy Appointment
The decision to appoint Rahane as captain over young Venkatesh Iyer, who was named vice-captain, was explained by KKR CEO Venky Mysore. He emphasized that the intensity and pressure of IPL captaincy require experience and a steady hand.
“IPL is quite an intense tournament. We think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people facing challenges with it as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, a lot of maturity, and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” Mysore stated.
Rahane’s Impact on KKR’s Campaign
Rahane’s leadership brings calmness, tactical acumen, and experience to the KKR squad. With two IPL titles (2012, 2014) under their belt, KKR will be hoping that Rahane can guide them to their third championship in the 2025 season.
