‘KKR will miss Shreyas Iyer, Gambhir isn’t there. If Rahane doesn’t open…’: IPL defending champions served a stinker

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan reckons defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will miss Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy within the 18th version of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Shreyas Iyer led KKR to their third title win final season, however the franchise did not retain the right-hander. Irfan Pathan additionally reckons the three-time IPL champions will miss Gautam Gambhir’s position within the assist workers.

Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan Ten Doeschate have all left KKR’s teaching workers as they’re concerned with the India senior males’s group. In IPL 2025, Ajinkya Rahane will lead KKR, whereas Venkatesh Iyer will function his deputy.

Dwayne Bravo has changed Gambhir because the mentor, whereas Chandrakant Pandit is the top coach. Pathan believes Rahane, the batter, will form Rahane, the chief within the IPL 2025 season, which will get underway on Saturday, March 22. KKR will tackle Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) within the match opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Pathan additionally reckons Rahane can not bat at any quantity decrease than three, so the franchise has a top-order conundrum. The previous India all-rounder believes that KKR will even miss England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt, who has joined RCB for IPL 2025.

“KKR will miss Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. Gautam Gambhir is not in the dugout, so KKR will miss that, too. Shreyas Iyer has a good hunch in his captaincy, he is a bit under-rated. It is a little unfortunate. He has joined a team that has never won the IPL. If he does well there, the under-rated tag will be done with. Ajinkya Rahane will get his experience. He has captained Mumbai and even India. I have one concern: how Ajinkya Rahane, the captain, compliments Ajinkya Rahane, the batter,” Pathan instructed Jatin Sapru on the latter’s YouTube channel.

“Phil Salt and Sunil Narine used to go big last season. There will be a temptation for Rahane to go up the order, and the team management will be tempted, too. He can’t bat lower than three. If Rahane doesn’t open, he will think, ‘I’m better off opening’. Gautam Gambhir has unshakable confidence on Sunil Narine, can the other people give him the same confidence and faith? There will be a lot of things going on in their head. Shreyas Iyer’s batting in the middle will also be missed,” he added.

Rahane will mentor Venkatesh Iyer

Irfan Pathan feels that being the vice-captain for IPL 2025 wouldn’t be an added burden for Venkatesh Iyer, who was picked up on the mega public sale for INR 23.75 crore. Earlier, many believed Venkatesh Iyer could be the captain for KKR. Nonetheless, the franchise shocked everybody by making INR 1.50 crore purchase Rahane the captain.

“They announced Venkatesh Iyer as vice-captain so Ajinkya Rahane can mentor him. Rahane wants to prove himself, I think he will be secure and he will mentor Venkatesh Iyer. He takes everyone along,” stated Pathan.

KKR squad for IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali.