IPL 2025
New Delhi: Venkatesh Iyer, a player for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has said he is ready to be the captain if he gets the chance in IPL 2025. Although he has never been a captain before, he believes being a leader is more important than just having a title.
The KKR team hasn’t chosen a captain yet for this season, which starts with a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Eden Gardens. Previous captain Shreyas Iyer led KKR to victory in IPL 2024 but has moved to Punjab Kings in a big auction.
Venkatesh told ESPNcricinfo, “I am definitely ready. Captaincy is just a label. I think being a leader is what counts more.” He emphasized that a leader should set a good example both on the field and off it. He mentioned he is already doing this with his team in Madhya Pradesh, even though he is not the captain there.
“I might not be the captain of the MP team, but my teammates respect my opinions. I believe everyone, no matter if they are new or experienced, or regardless of how much they earn, should be free to share their thoughts. It’s important to have an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up,” he added.
Venkatesh joined KKR in 2021, was let go last year but was bought back for a large sum of ₹23.75 crore after a bidding competition with RCB. He has played 51 matches for KKR, scoring a total of 1,326 runs.
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