Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves in hot waters surrounding a major conflict, threatening their chances of retaining the title in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>. After announcing seasoned batter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane" rel="dofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a> as the captain for the impending season, KKR has too many top order options to pick from ahead of the curtainraiser against the RCB at home next Saturday (Mar 22); cricketer-turned-broadcaster Aakash Chopra explains how.
Rahane is predominantly a top-order batter, having batted inside the top three in white-ball cricket for most of his career, and with plenty of options available with KKR to choose from, they will have a tough time making the final choice. Chopra feels the &lsquo;captain-batter&rsquo; conflict could haunt Rahane all season, possibly affecting KKR&rsquo;s performance.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-how-kkrs-venky-mysore-found-a-captain-in-lost-jewel-ajinkya-rahane-venkatesh-iyer-8849149" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: How KKR&rsquo;s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane</a>
Although Chopra said he understands the reason behind KKR picking Rahane as the new captain, for how &lsquo;maturely&rsquo; he handles pressure, which the franchise&rsquo;s CEO Venky Mysore also acknowledged, his worry remains should Rahane not bat inside the top three, he is unlikely to contribute to his team&rsquo;s success.
&ldquo;For Shreyas Iyer, they've got a domestic middle-order batter, who recently helped his side win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He is in good form. But I do understand because KKR's biggest challenge this season is the 'captain-batter' conflict that Rahane will face.&nbsp;
&ldquo;For Rahane, the batter, the best thing to do is open at Eden Gardens. Or else, bat at No. 3. Anything lower kills his chance to contribute significantly because he needs the powerplay,&rdquo; Chopra said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;
<h2>Who opens for KKR?</h2>
KKR has Sunil Narine, a proven match-winner and a handy opener for several seasons. With them also buying Proteas gloveman Quinton de Kock, he will open alongside the West Indies spinner, with the newly-appointed vice captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/venkatesh-iyer" rel="dofollow">Venkatesh Iyer</a> most likely to bat number three, leaving no room for Rahane to be slotted inside the top three.&nbsp;
Chopra feels Rahane has to pick between the batter that he is or keep the team ahead.
"That is the conflict. Sunil Narine will open, and he will open with Quinton de Kock if he is in the team. Now, will they tell Narine not to open after the runs he scored last season? Of course, he will open. So, No. 3, which is ideally the position for Venkatesh Iyer, is the best you can do for Rahane. Or else he will have to forgo his own ambitions as a batter," he added.
Meanwhile, KKR will host RCB in the curtain raiser on Saturday.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Aakash Chopra feels KKR's new captain, Ajinkya Rahane, has to pick between prioritising the batter in him and putting the team ahead of IPL 2025.

Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves in hot waters surrounding a major conflict, threatening their chances of retaining the title in IPL 2025. After announcing seasoned batter Ajinkya Rahane as the captain for the impending season, KKR has too many top order options to pick from ahead of the curtainraiser against the RCB at home next Saturday (Mar 22); cricketer-turned-broadcaster Aakash Chopra explains how. Rahane is predominantly a top-order batter, having batted inside the top three in white-ball cricket for most of his career, and with plenty of options available with KKR to choose from, they will have a tough time making the final choice. Chopra feels the ‘captain-batter’ conflict could haunt Rahane all season, possibly affecting KKR’s performance. Also read | IPL 2025: How KKR’s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane Although Chopra said he understands the reason behind KKR picking Rahane as the new captain, for how ‘maturely’ he handles pressure, which the franchise’s CEO Venky Mysore also acknowledged, his worry remains should Rahane not bat inside the top three, he is unlikely to contribute to his team’s success. “For Shreyas Iyer, they've got a domestic middle-order batter, who recently helped his side win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He is in good form. But I do understand because KKR's biggest challenge this season is the 'captain-batter' conflict that Rahane will face. “For Rahane, the batter, the best thing to do is open at Eden Gardens. Or else, bat at No. 3. Anything lower kills his chance to contribute significantly because he needs the powerplay,” Chopra said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo. Who opens for KKR? KKR has Sunil Narine, a proven match-winner and a handy opener for several seasons. With them also buying Proteas gloveman Quinton de Kock, he will open alongside the West Indies spinner, with the newly-appointed vice captain Venkatesh Iyer most likely to bat number three, leaving no room for Rahane to be slotted inside the top three. Chopra feels Rahane has to pick between the batter that he is or keep the team ahead. "That is the conflict. Sunil Narine will open, and he will open with Quinton de Kock if he is in the team. Now, will they tell Narine not to open after the runs he scored last season? Of course, he will open. So, No. 3, which is ideally the position for Venkatesh Iyer, is the best you can do for Rahane. Or else he will have to forgo his own ambitions as a batter," he added. Meanwhile, KKR will host RCB in the curtain raiser on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: ‘Anything lower kills his chance…,’ Aakash Chopra on Rahane’s KKR batting position

Defending <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL</a> champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed batting great <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane" rel="dofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a> as their captain for the upcoming season starting March 22. Though Rahane was a last-minute buy at the 2025 mega auction, he leapfrogged another contender, Venkatesh Iyer, for KKR&rsquo;s captaincy, with the franchise&rsquo;s CEO Venky Mysore explaining what helped him find a leader in India&rsquo;s lost jewel Rahane.
Rahane is a Test great, having played, won and even captained India in several famous outings over the years; however, after a poor run in the lead-up to the 2023 WTC Final, where he topped scored across both innings, Rahane lost his place to youngsters in the Test side.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-rajasthan-royals-captain-sanju-samson-still-not-over-8847280" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over...</a>
In the IPL, Rahane featured for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022.
Meanwhile, Iyer (bought for a whopping $2.3 million (INR 23.75 crore) played a handy role in helping KKR lift its third IPL last year and was the frontrunner for KKR&rsquo;s captaincy but missed the bus on the experience ground.
"IPL is quite an intense tournament," Mysore said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo.
"Clearly, we think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,&rdquo; he continued.
<h2>Why Rahane?</h2>
Last year, Shreyas Iyer was the KKR captain, and despite leading them to an IPL title, he chose against getting retained by them, thus entering the auction pool, where Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased him for a whooping INR 26 crore. On the other side, Rahane went unsold on day one of the mega auction but was the first name on day two, with KKR bagging his service for INR 1.5 crore.
Mysore said for what Rahane brings to the table with that wealth of experience, he stands out to lead the team heading into the new season.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/give-him-a-break-ex-mi-bowling-coach-says-another-injury-in-the-same-spot-could-be-career-ender-for-bumrah-8845841" rel="dofollow">'Give him a break': Ex-MI bowling coach says 'another injury in the same spot could be career-ender' for Bumrah</a>
"He has played 185 IPL games, 200 international games across formats," Mysore said. "He has led India, led Mumbai in domestic, he's led in IPL. And he has played from season one of IPL. All that is massive. There should be no surprise at all [on appointing Rahane as captain].
Mysore explains the various other factors that they considered while opting for Rahane.
&ldquo;Captaincy cannot be underestimated. This is going to be my 15th season, so I have seen a lot. It is not only about what you do on the field. There's a lot of [other] stuff when it comes to IPL, including dealing with media, and there will be expectations in terms of the captain.&nbsp;
&ldquo;At the same time, it is a new cycle, there is diversity in the team, if you have to be a successful captain, you have to invest in building relationships with everybody so that you know how to get the best out of everyone. And then there's preparatory stuff in terms of camps, bowlers' meetings, batters' meetings, interaction with coaches - that's a lot to take in. From that perspective, we are lucky we have got Ajinkya, who will be terrific for us. Not only as a captain, of which there's no doubt but also as a batsman. He has scored tons of runs,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: In the IPL, Rahane featured for CSK for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022.

Defending IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have appointed batting great Ajinkya Rahane as their captain for the upcoming season starting March 22. Though Rahane was a last-minute buy at the 2025 mega auction, he leapfrogged another contender, Venkatesh Iyer, for KKR’s captaincy, with the franchise’s CEO Venky Mysore explaining what helped him find a leader in India’s lost jewel Rahane. Rahane is a Test great, having played, won and even captained India in several famous outings over the years; however, after a poor run in the lead-up to the 2023 WTC Final, where he topped scored across both innings, Rahane lost his place to youngsters in the Test side. Also read | IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson still not over... In the IPL, Rahane featured for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for two seasons before this, winning the 2023 one before switching bases to KKR, for whom he played previously in 2022. Meanwhile, Iyer (bought for a whopping $2.3 million (INR 23.75 crore) played a handy role in helping KKR lift its third IPL last year and was the frontrunner for KKR’s captaincy but missed the bus on the experience ground. "IPL is quite an intense tournament," Mysore said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo. "Clearly, we think very well of Venkatesh Iyer, but at the same time, it [captaincy] is taxing on a youngster. We have seen lots of people having lots of challenges with it [handling captaincy] as they go forward. It takes a very steady hand, takes a lot of maturity and experience, which we felt Ajinkya brings with him,” he continued. Why Rahane? Last year, Shreyas Iyer was the KKR captain, and despite leading them to an IPL title, he chose against getting retained by them, thus entering the auction pool, where Punjab Kings (PBKS) purchased him for a whooping INR 26 crore. On the other side, Rahane went unsold on day one of the mega auction but was the first name on day two, with KKR bagging his service for INR 1.5 crore. Mysore said for what Rahane brings to the table with that wealth of experience, he stands out to lead the team heading into the new season. Also read | 'Give him a break': Ex-MI bowling coach says 'another injury in the same spot could be career-ender' for Bumrah "He has played 185 IPL games, 200 international games across formats," Mysore said. "He has led India, led Mumbai in domestic, he's led in IPL. And he has played from season one of IPL. All that is massive. There should be no surprise at all [on appointing Rahane as captain]. Mysore explains the various other factors that they considered while opting for Rahane. “Captaincy cannot be underestimated. This is going to be my 15th season, so I have seen a lot. It is not only about what you do on the field. There's a lot of [other] stuff when it comes to IPL, including dealing with media, and there will be expectations in terms of the captain. “At the same time, it is a new cycle, there is diversity in the team, if you have to be a successful captain, you have to invest in building relationships with everybody so that you know how to get the best out of everyone. And then there's preparatory stuff in terms of camps, bowlers' meetings, batters' meetings, interaction with coaches - that's a lot to take in. From that perspective, we are lucky we have got Ajinkya, who will be terrific for us. Not only as a captain, of which there's no doubt but also as a batsman. He has scored tons of runs,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: How KKR’s Venky Mysore found a captain in lost jewel Ajinkya Rahane

In a stunning turn of events, Ajinkya Rahane is reportedly leading the race to captain Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. After he went unsold in the first draft in the recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR bought Rahane late on day two at his base price of INR 1.5 crore to fill the opener’s slot (capped players category), only for him to stay ahead of everyone in the captaincy pecking order.

The Mumbai domestic team has appointed Shreyas Iyer - who helmed KKR in 2024-&nbsp;as captain for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament. After the 2025 IPL auction, Shreyas moved to Punjab Kings.

Rahane’s return to T20 cricket and form, wherein he hit twin fifties in his last two outings against Kerala and Maharashtra, has bolstered his chances of bagging a permanent spot in KKR’s XI from the next season onwards. &nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/don-bradmans-baggy-green-cap-expected-to-fetch-enormous-money-in-sydney-auction-780753">Don Bradman’s ‘baggy green’ cap expected to fetch enormous money in Sydney auction</a>

"Yes, at the moment, it's 90 per cent confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option," a source close to the information said, as quoted by TOI.

This move, however, contradicted the idea of KKR purchasing their star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a whopping $2.8 million (INR 23.75 crore), hinting at his appointment as the franchise’s new captain.

KKR retained six players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, leaving no room for them to use the RTM for Iyer, for whom they splurged $2.8m in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, KKR made several shocking calls in the lead-up to the mega auction by not retaining the two Iyers, including their captain Shreyas, who will now play for Punjab Kings from IPL 2025 onwards.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) entered the auction with the biggest purse (INR 110 crore) and bagged Shreyas Iyer for $3.13 million (INR 26.5 crore), making him the most expensive IPL player ever.&nbsp;

Rishabh Pant’s bid next, however, surpassed it, with Lucknow Super Giants pocketing the batting dynamite for a sizeable $3.18m (INR 27 crore).

<h2>Rahane returns to KKR</h2>

Having played for KKR in 2022, where he featured in seven games, scoring a mere 133 and striking at just over 100 (103.90), Rahane returns to play for Kolkata.

In IPL 2023, he represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK), batting at number three and scoring 326 runs from 14 matches.

His contribution led to CSK winning the IPL title for the record fifth time.

Chasing 171 in the rain-hit final against Gujarat Titans, Rahane scored a quick-fire 27 off 23 balls, including two sixes and as many fours, to see his team home.&nbsp;

Though the right-handed batter played 13 matches the following season, his form dipped, as he scored just 242 runs at a strike rate of 123.46.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a stunning turn of events, Ajinkya Rahane is reportedly leading the race to captain Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. After he went unsold in the first draft in the recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR bought Rahane late on day two at his base price of INR 1.

In a stunning turn of events, Ajinkya Rahane is reportedly leading the race to captain Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. After he went unsold in the first draft in the recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR bought Rahane late on day two at his base price of INR 1.5 crore to fill the opener’s slot (capped players category), only for him to stay ahead of everyone in the captaincy pecking order. The Mumbai domestic team has appointed Shreyas Iyer - who helmed KKR in 2024- as captain for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament. After the 2025 IPL auction, Shreyas moved to Punjab Kings. Rahane’s return to T20 cricket and form, wherein he hit twin fifties in his last two outings against Kerala and Maharashtra, has bolstered his chances of bagging a permanent spot in KKR’s XI from the next season onwards. ALSO READ: Don Bradman’s ‘baggy green’ cap expected to fetch enormous money in Sydney auction "Yes, at the moment, it's 90 per cent confirmed that Ajinkya will be the new KKR captain. He was bought by KKR specifically for the purpose of being a viable captaincy option," a source close to the information said, as quoted by TOI. This move, however, contradicted the idea of KKR purchasing their star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a whopping $2.8 million (INR 23.75 crore), hinting at his appointment as the franchise’s new captain. KKR retained six players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, leaving no room for them to use the RTM for Iyer, for whom they splurged $2.8m in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, KKR made several shocking calls in the lead-up to the mega auction by not retaining the two Iyers, including their captain Shreyas, who will now play for Punjab Kings from IPL 2025 onwards. Punjab Kings (PBKS) entered the auction with the biggest purse (INR 110 crore) and bagged Shreyas Iyer for $3.13 million (INR 26.5 crore), making him the most expensive IPL player ever. Rishabh Pant’s bid next, however, surpassed it, with Lucknow Super Giants pocketing the batting dynamite for a sizeable $3.18m (INR 27 crore). Rahane returns to KKR Having played for KKR in 2022, where he featured in seven games, scoring a mere 133 and striking at just over 100 (103.90), Rahane returns to play for Kolkata. In IPL 2023, he represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK), batting at number three and scoring 326 runs from 14 matches. His contribution led to CSK winning the IPL title for the record fifth time. Chasing 171 in the rain-hit final against Gujarat Titans, Rahane scored a quick-fire 27 off 23 balls, including two sixes and as many fours, to see his team home. Though the right-handed batter played 13 matches the following season, his form dipped, as he scored just 242 runs at a strike rate of 123.46. (With inputs from agencies)

Ajinkya Rahane, not Venkatesh Iyer, leads race to captain KKR in IPL 2025 – Report

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged Kolkata Knight Riders to change their captain as the Eoin Morgan-led team is hoping to book a playoff berth in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League in Dubai.&nbsp;

In the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, KKR's run has been a topsy-turvy affair as they have won three games while losing two so far, some decisions have been in their favour but overall, the team has lacked in some departments.&nbsp;

In a video uploaded on his youtube channel, the commentator asked the team to change their skipper midway through the season as they have done it before also - when KKR had replaced Gautam Gambhir.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explainer-5-teams-2-spots-what-rcb-mi-kkr-pbks-and-rr-need-to-qualify-for-ipl-2021-playoffs-417918">Explainer: 5 teams, 2 spots - What RCB, MI, KKR, PBKS and RR need to qualify for IPL 2021 playoffs</a>

"Kolkata, I request you with folded hands: I am giving you two or three options. Firstly, change the captain, you have done it before and there's no shame in it. I was talking to Gautam recently. He talked about the 2014 season, saying he couldn't score any runs in the first three games so he went to the coach and said, 'I am not able to do it, let me just sit out because I am not contributing'," Chopra said.&nbsp;

"Morgan would have thought the same because it's been 11 innings and he's averaging 10. We are not seeing any great decisions in captaincy in your team selections and all of that either. So maybe it's time to bring Shakib Al Hasan in place of Morgan," he added.&nbsp;

"You can't play Seifert if you are not getting him to bat in the top-order. So replace him with Ben Cutting. Do something because you don't have Lockie so you've got to have at least five bowlers. Five bowlers plus Venkatesh Iyer is alright but four bowlers plus Venkatesh Iyer? It just doesn't make sense my friend. I honestly don't get how you can expect so much from him. He's doing well but he is not Superman," Chopra further said.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-417912">IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

"When you write those names on the sheet, please see how many bowlers there are because there's no point in playing this much batting. You said you don't have the balance without Russell but you also said that there's a specific role for Ben Cutting. There won't be a better role than this. At least play him if you don't like Shakib. In fact, play Shakib too and tell Eoin Morgan, 'it's not working out'. It happens to everyone... but tends to hurt a little more if it's an overseas captain," he concluded.&nbsp;

Although they are struggling to enter the playoffs, KKR have impressed with their performance in the second half, and even their two defeats were narrow, where they lost in the last over.&nbsp;

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Matchday Mood 🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldSmileDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldSmileDay</a> 😊<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvPBKS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvPBKS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmiKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmiKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KorboLorboJeetbo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KorboLorboJeetbo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BFKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#আমিKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2021?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2021</a> <a href="https://t.co/UNwuekMCzB">pic.twitter.com/UNwuekMCzB</a>
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Venkatesh Iyer has been the star performer with the bat in the second leg for KKR, while Rahul Tripathi has scored the maximum runs for the team this season. The decision to move Nitish Rana up the order has also paid dividends but Shubman Gill has not been able to capitalise on the starts. In bowling, Varun Chakravarthy has been their go-to man as he picked up six wickets in the second leg, while Sunil Narine too has been among the wickets.&nbsp;

But they have concerns in the pace department with Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson missing games following injuries, forcing skipper Eoin Morgan to make changes. Even the KKR captain needs to get some runs under his belt.&nbsp;

Tim Southee and Shivam Mavi is the new pace bowling pair for KKR and they will need to step up. Pacer Prasidh Krishna did well to snap four wickets in the matches that he had played, before being dropped for conceding 22 runs in the 19th over, against CSK.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged Kolkata Knight Riders to change their captain as the Eoin Morgan-led team is hoping to book a playoff berth in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League in Dubai.

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has urged Kolkata Knight Riders to change their captain as the Eoin Morgan-led team is hoping to book a playoff berth in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League in Dubai. In the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, KKR's run has been a topsy-turvy affair as they have won three games while losing two so far, some decisions have been in their favour but overall, the team has lacked in some departments. In a video uploaded on his youtube channel, the commentator asked the team to change their skipper midway through the season as they have done it before also - when KKR had replaced Gautam Gambhir. ALSO READ | Explainer: 5 teams, 2 spots - What RCB, MI, KKR, PBKS and RR need to qualify for IPL 2021 playoffs "Kolkata, I request you with folded hands: I am giving you two or three options. Firstly, change the captain, you have done it before and there's no shame in it. I was talking to Gautam recently. He talked about the 2014 season, saying he couldn't score any runs in the first three games so he went to the coach and said, 'I am not able to do it, let me just sit out because I am not contributing'," Chopra said. "Morgan would have thought the same because it's been 11 innings and he's averaging 10. We are not seeing any great decisions in captaincy in your team selections and all of that either. So maybe it's time to bring Shakib Al Hasan in place of Morgan," he added. "You can't play Seifert if you are not getting him to bat in the top-order. So replace him with Ben Cutting. Do something because you don't have Lockie so you've got to have at least five bowlers. Five bowlers plus Venkatesh Iyer is alright but four bowlers plus Venkatesh Iyer? It just doesn't make sense my friend. I honestly don't get how you can expect so much from him. He's doing well but he is not Superman," Chopra further said. ALSO READ | IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads "When you write those names on the sheet, please see how many bowlers there are because there's no point in playing this much batting. You said you don't have the balance without Russell but you also said that there's a specific role for Ben Cutting. There won't be a better role than this. At least play him if you don't like Shakib. In fact, play Shakib too and tell Eoin Morgan, 'it's not working out'. It happens to everyone... but tends to hurt a little more if it's an overseas captain," he concluded. Although they are struggling to enter the playoffs, KKR have impressed with their performance in the second half, and even their two defeats were narrow, where they lost in the last over. Matchday Mood 🤝 #WorldSmileDay 😊#KKRvPBKS #KKR #AmiKKR #KorboLorboJeetbo #আমিKKR #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/UNwuekMCzB — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 1, 2021 × Venkatesh Iyer has been the star performer with the bat in the second leg for KKR, while Rahul Tripathi has scored the maximum runs for the team this season. The decision to move Nitish Rana up the order has also paid dividends but Shubman Gill has not been able to capitalise on the starts. In bowling, Varun Chakravarthy has been their go-to man as he picked up six wickets in the second leg, while Sunil Narine too has been among the wickets. But they have concerns in the pace department with Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson missing games following injuries, forcing skipper Eoin Morgan to make changes. Even the KKR captain needs to get some runs under his belt. Tim Southee and Shivam Mavi is the new pace bowling pair for KKR and they will need to step up. Pacer Prasidh Krishna did well to snap four wickets in the matches that he had played, before being dropped for conceding 22 runs in the 19th over, against CSK. (With inputs from agencies)

'I request you with folded hands': Aakash Chopra asks KKR to change captain, gives replacement options

There have been many debates around the participation of overseas players in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, set to commence in September in the United Arab Emirates. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have already said that it is unlikely that their players will participate in IPL 2021, there are question marks on the participation of Australian players as well. <o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders will be hit hard if England and Australia players don’t return for IPL 2021 with two crucial players in captain Eoin Morgan and key bowler Pat Cummins. In case Morgan doesn’t return for IPL 2021, former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik has said that he is ready to take the charge if the management asks him to do so.

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Speaking to The Times of India, Karthik said: "Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it.”<o:p></o:p>

KKR struggled during Karthik’s captaincy and the India international decided to step down from captaincy to focus on his batting. However, the two-time IPL winners have continued to disappoint under the leadership of World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan as well.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/test-match-is-like-a-dream-indias-harmanpreet-kaur-excited-for-red-ball-cricket-against-england-389240" hreflang="en">'Test match is like a dream': India's Harmanpreet Kaur excited for red-ball cricket against England</a>

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In IPL 2019 and 2020, KKR lost out on playoff spot due to net run-rate but will look to turn things around when the 14th edition resumes in the UAE. <o:p></o:p>

There have been many debates around the participation of overseas players in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, set to commence in September in the United Arab Emirates.

There have been many debates around the participation of overseas players in the second phase of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, set to commence in September in the United Arab Emirates. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have already said that it is unlikely that their players will participate in IPL 2021, there are question marks on the participation of Australian players as well. Kolkata Knight Riders will be hit hard if England and Australia players don’t return for IPL 2021 with two crucial players in captain Eoin Morgan and key bowler Pat Cummins. In case Morgan doesn’t return for IPL 2021, former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik has said that he is ready to take the charge if the management asks him to do so. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: PM Narendra Modi directs officials to vaccinate athletes 'on top priority' Speaking to The Times of India, Karthik said: "Pat Cummins has himself said that he will not come. But when it comes to Eoin Morgan, there are still three months to go. A lot can change from now till September. But if I am asked to lead, I will be ready for it.” KKR struggled during Karthik’s captaincy and the India international decided to step down from captaincy to focus on his batting. However, the two-time IPL winners have continued to disappoint under the leadership of World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan as well. ALSO READ: 'Test match is like a dream': India's Harmanpreet Kaur excited for red-ball cricket against England In IPL 2019 and 2020, KKR lost out on playoff spot due to net run-rate but will look to turn things around when the 14th edition resumes in the UAE.

Cricket: Dinesh Karthik open to captaining KKR again in IPL 2021

Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday dropped a huge surprise as they announced, just hours before their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> match against Mumbai Indians, that Dinesh Karthik has stepped down from captaincy with the duty to lead the side now being with Eoin Morgan.&nbsp;

While Karthik’s sudden decision that he wants to focus more on his batting came as a big surprise, moreover when KKR were lying at fourth spot in the points table, former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir has said that he was a bit surprised by the decision while adding the franchise management should have named Morgan as the captain of the side from the start rather than making a mid-season change.

“Cricket is not about relationships, it’s about performances and honestly, I don’t think Morgan can change a lot of things. He could’ve changed a lot of things had he captained from the start of the tournament. No one changes during the middle of the tournament. It’s nice to have a good relationship between the coach and the captain,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-dinesh-karthik-steps-down-from-kkr-captaincy-eoin-morgan-named-new-skipper-335683" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik steps down from KKR captaincy</a>

“Little surprised. He’s obviously leading KKR for the last 2 and a half years. You don’t do it in the middle of the season. KKR is not in that bad a position that someone needs to change a captain, so yeah little bit surprised,” he added.

"If KKR wanted to make this change, they should have done it at the start of the competition. If you are talking so much about a World Cup-winning captain being there in your team puts pressure on someone like Dinesh Karthik then why not just give it to Morgan straightaway, why put so much pressure on Karthik?

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2020-dinesh-karthik-quits-as-kkr-skipper-lets-take-a-look-at-their-captains-in-the-past-335720">IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik quits as KKR skipper, let's take a look at their captains in the past</a>

Gambhir gave further insights to what goes on behind the scenes as the former KKR skipper said that you start getting “fillers” from the management about them being unhappy with your captaincy or batting.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-deep-dasgupta-not-surprised-by-eoin-morgan-taking-over-dinesh-karthik-as-kkr-captain-335780" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Deep Dasgupta not surprised by Eoin Morgan taking over Dinesh Karthik as KKR captain</a>&nbsp;

"My point is, it sounds very good when someone says that I want to concentrate on my batting but the truth is, you start getting fillers from the management whether they are happy or not, so it’s very unfortunate,” Gambhir further opined.

Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan started his captaincy journey for KKR with a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.

Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday dropped a huge surprise as they announced, just hours before their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 match against Mumbai Indians, that Dinesh Karthik has stepped down from captaincy with the duty to lead the side now being with Eoin Morgan.

Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday dropped a huge surprise as they announced, just hours before their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 match against Mumbai Indians, that Dinesh Karthik has stepped down from captaincy with the duty to lead the side now being with Eoin Morgan. While Karthik’s sudden decision that he wants to focus more on his batting came as a big surprise, moreover when KKR were lying at fourth spot in the points table, former KKR captain Gautam Gambhir has said that he was a bit surprised by the decision while adding the franchise management should have named Morgan as the captain of the side from the start rather than making a mid-season change. “Cricket is not about relationships, it’s about performances and honestly, I don’t think Morgan can change a lot of things. He could’ve changed a lot of things had he captained from the start of the tournament. No one changes during the middle of the tournament. It’s nice to have a good relationship between the coach and the captain,” Gambhir said on Star Sports. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik steps down from KKR captaincy “Little surprised. He’s obviously leading KKR for the last 2 and a half years. You don’t do it in the middle of the season. KKR is not in that bad a position that someone needs to change a captain, so yeah little bit surprised,” he added. "If KKR wanted to make this change, they should have done it at the start of the competition. If you are talking so much about a World Cup-winning captain being there in your team puts pressure on someone like Dinesh Karthik then why not just give it to Morgan straightaway, why put so much pressure on Karthik? IN PICS | IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik quits as KKR skipper, let's take a look at their captains in the past Gambhir gave further insights to what goes on behind the scenes as the former KKR skipper said that you start getting “fillers” from the management about them being unhappy with your captaincy or batting. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Deep Dasgupta not surprised by Eoin Morgan taking over Dinesh Karthik as KKR captain "My point is, it sounds very good when someone says that I want to concentrate on my batting but the truth is, you start getting fillers from the management whether they are happy or not, so it’s very unfortunate,” Gambhir further opined. Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan started his captaincy journey for KKR with a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.

IPL 2020: 'But the truth is...' - Gautam Gambhir reacts to mid-season captaincy change by KKR

Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta said he wasn’t surprised by Eoin Morgan being named the new Kolkata Knight Riders captain after Dinesh Karthik stepped down from the leadership duties in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

KKR on Friday announced that the 2019 World Cup winning captain will take over the captaincy duties from Karthik, who helped KKR win four out of seven matches in IPL 2020 so far.&nbsp;

Karthik has captained KKR in 37 matches since 2018 with a record of 19 wins and 17 defeats. While KKR qualified to the playoffs in 2018, they ended fifth in the league stage last season.&nbsp;

"I'm not surprised with this decision because more than Dinesh Karthik's form as a batsman or captain, we also have to notice the fact that KKR had a World Cup-winning skipper in their side in Eoin Morgan.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-mumbai-indians-rohit-sharma-and-kieron-pollard-near-records-as-they-face-kkr-335773" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard near records as they face KKR</a>

"I felt this was on the cards as soon as KKR had picked up Morgan in the auction in 2019. Your inclined to think on these lines when you have a World Cup-winning captain in your team," the cricketer-turned-commentator, told News Tak.

However, Dasgupta stated that KKR players might struggle to adapt to Morgan’s captaincy but backed the Englishman to carry the team forward in IPL 2020.&nbsp;

"KKR might fall apart or flourish after this decision. Team policies, strategies and mentality changes when there is a change in leadership, especially in the middle of a season, because every captain is different. There might be a few players who might not be able to adapt to the way Morgan leads the team or can't relate to his style of captaincy.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-dinesh-karthik-steps-down-from-kkr-captaincy-eoin-morgan-named-new-skipper-335683" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik steps down from KKR captaincy, Eoin Morgan named new skipper</a>

"But at the same time I think the way Morgan has led the England team in the past 2-3 years.... I think he has the capability to handle unforeseen situations but it will be interesting to see how he leads this team," Dasgupta said. 
KKR will take on Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi on Friday. 
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Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta said he wasn’t surprised by Eoin Morgan being named the new Kolkata Knight Riders captain after Dinesh Karthik stepped down from the leadership duties in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.

Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta said he wasn’t surprised by Eoin Morgan being named the new Kolkata Knight Riders captain after Dinesh Karthik stepped down from the leadership duties in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. KKR on Friday announced that the 2019 World Cup winning captain will take over the captaincy duties from Karthik, who helped KKR win four out of seven matches in IPL 2020 so far. Karthik has captained KKR in 37 matches since 2018 with a record of 19 wins and 17 defeats. While KKR qualified to the playoffs in 2018, they ended fifth in the league stage last season. "I'm not surprised with this decision because more than Dinesh Karthik's form as a batsman or captain, we also have to notice the fact that KKR had a World Cup-winning skipper in their side in Eoin Morgan. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard near records as they face KKR "I felt this was on the cards as soon as KKR had picked up Morgan in the auction in 2019. Your inclined to think on these lines when you have a World Cup-winning captain in your team," the cricketer-turned-commentator, told News Tak. However, Dasgupta stated that KKR players might struggle to adapt to Morgan’s captaincy but backed the Englishman to carry the team forward in IPL 2020. "KKR might fall apart or flourish after this decision. Team policies, strategies and mentality changes when there is a change in leadership, especially in the middle of a season, because every captain is different. There might be a few players who might not be able to adapt to the way Morgan leads the team or can't relate to his style of captaincy. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik steps down from KKR captaincy, Eoin Morgan named new skipper "But at the same time I think the way Morgan has led the England team in the past 2-3 years.... I think he has the capability to handle unforeseen situations but it will be interesting to see how he leads this team," Dasgupta said. KKR will take on Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

IPL 2020: Deep Dasgupta not surprised by Eoin Morgan taking over Dinesh Karthik as KKR captain

Dinesh Karthik on Friday stepped down as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while handing over the captaincy duties to ICC World Cup 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan. Karthik has moved away from captaincy with a view to focus on his batting and contributing more to the team’s cause.&nbsp;

Karthik’s decision to step down from captaincy duties come as a major surprise as KKR have been doing well in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a> and are sitting fourth in the points table with four wins in seven matches so far. Morgan will start leading KKR from their match against Mumbai Indians, scheduled for Friday in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

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Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said “we are fortunate to have leaders such as DK, who has always put the team first. It takes a lot of courage for someone like him to take a decision such as this. While we were surprised by his decision, we are respectful of his wishes. We are also fortunate that Eoin Morgan, the 2019 World Cup-winning captain, who has been the vice captain, is willing to lead the side going forward. DK and Eoin have worked brilliantly together during this tournament and although Eoin takes over as captain, this is effectively a role swap and we expect that this transition will work in a seamless manner”

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-kkrs-sunil-narine-sweats-it-out-in-the-nets-after-being-called-for-suspect-action-335477" hreflang="en">IPL: Narine sweats it out in the nets after being called for suspect action</a>

Karthik was heavily criticized after KKR’s couple of defeats in the early phase of the tournament but bounced back strong with some bold decisions against Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab.

However, him stepping down from the captaincy role could be to focus more on his batting. Besides the only half-century in IPL 2020, Karthik has been pretty lackluster with the willow so far and will be hoping pressure-free cricket can bring the best out of him. 
&nbsp;

Dinesh Karthik on Friday stepped down as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while handing over the captaincy duties to ICC World Cup 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan.

Dinesh Karthik on Friday stepped down as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while handing over the captaincy duties to ICC World Cup 2019 World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan. Karthik has moved away from captaincy with a view to focus on his batting and contributing more to the team’s cause. Karthik’s decision to step down from captaincy duties come as a major surprise as KKR have been doing well in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 and are sitting fourth in the points table with four wins in seven matches so far. Morgan will start leading KKR from their match against Mumbai Indians, scheduled for Friday in Abu Dhabi. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Virat Kohli's bhangra cum rap show during warm-up impresses fans Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said “we are fortunate to have leaders such as DK, who has always put the team first. It takes a lot of courage for someone like him to take a decision such as this. While we were surprised by his decision, we are respectful of his wishes. We are also fortunate that Eoin Morgan, the 2019 World Cup-winning captain, who has been the vice captain, is willing to lead the side going forward. DK and Eoin have worked brilliantly together during this tournament and although Eoin takes over as captain, this is effectively a role swap and we expect that this transition will work in a seamless manner” ALSO READ: IPL: Narine sweats it out in the nets after being called for suspect action Karthik was heavily criticized after KKR’s couple of defeats in the early phase of the tournament but bounced back strong with some bold decisions against Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab. However, him stepping down from the captaincy role could be to focus more on his batting. Besides the only half-century in IPL 2020, Karthik has been pretty lackluster with the willow so far and will be hoping pressure-free cricket can bring the best out of him.

IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik steps down from KKR captaincy, Eoin Morgan named new skipper

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