KKR vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer opens up on his dynamic leadership style, bonding with skipper Rahane, and their collaborative approach to guiding the team in IPL 2025.
New Delhi, April 7: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer has lauded the leadership style of his skipper Ajinkya Rahane, describing him as “calm and composed under pressure” while appreciating the contrast between their approaches on and off the field.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s exclusive show ‘Gen Bold’, Iyer emphasized the importance of collaboration in the team setup and how different leadership energies contribute to success.
“Every captain has a different approach. Ajinkya is very calm under pressure, while my captaincy style is a bit more dynamic,” Iyer said.
“That’s the beauty of cricket – players with different skill sets and mindsets coming together to achieve one goal. We’ve been in constant touch – not just about on-field plans, but life beyond the game as well. I’m really happy to be playing under him.”
Iyer, known for his explosive batting and handy bowling, was a standout performer in KKR’s previous title-winning campaign, racking up 370 runs including four fifties. His impressive form earned him a whopping ₹23.75 crore contract at the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him one of the most expensive picks of the season.
Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, returned to KKR for his second stint, acquired at ₹1.5 crore. A veteran of the league with over 4500 IPL runs, Rahane’s calm demeanour and leadership pedigree (including leading Mumbai to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win) have earned him the KKR captaincy this season.
The synergy between Iyer and Rahane appears to be one of KKR’s biggest assets this season, with the duo balancing aggression and calm, youth and experience.
“Ajinkya has already taken the initiative to speak to players. His mentorship is crucial, and it’s great to have someone so level-headed leading us,” Iyer added.
With a powerful lineup including Russell, Narine, Quinton de Kock, Rinku Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR is aiming to continue its strong legacy in IPL 2025 under the Rahane-Iyer leadership duo.