Cricket experts are worried about KKR’s new captain Ajinkya Rahane. Former KKR batsman Aakash Chopra has given a big warning that Ajinkya Rahane will face ‘captain-batsman’ conflict in the IPL 2025 season, which could become a big problem for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Last week, defending champions KKR announced Rahane as their captain for IPL 2025. According to team CEO Venky Mysore, Rahane’s vast experience and maturity were the main reasons for this decision. Venkatesh Iyer has been made the vice-captain.
Will the batting order change the map of the game?
Aakash Chopra, while talking to ESPNcricinfo, clearly said that Rahane’s success as a batsman depends entirely on his place in the batting order.
According to Chopra, “Rahane should bat at opening or number 3. If he comes below this, he will not be able to contribute much because he needs the powerplay.”
But this is where the problem arises. Last season’s hero Sunil Narine is already the fixed opener, and Quinton de Kock will open with him. In such a situation, number 3 is the best place for Rahane, while Venkatesh Iyer is also perfect for this position.
“This is the struggle,” Chopra said, “Sunil Narine will open after his brilliant performance last season. So number 3, which is also the ideal place for Venkatesh Iyer, is the best option for Rahane. If this does not happen then Rahane will have to forget his batting ambitions.”
Indian legend Harbhajan Singh also agreed with this opinion.
He said, “The best chance for Rahane is at number 3, because the openers are fixed. If it was difficult to give a place in the batting order, then KKR should have given the captaincy to someone else like Narine, Iyer or Russell.”
Remember that last season, Sunil Narine scored 488 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of over 180 and played an important role in making KKR the champion. While Ajinkya Rahane could not impress much while playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024. He could score only 242 runs in 12 innings.
Now it remains to be seen how Rahane performs for KKR as a captain.
Rahane will captain KKR for the first time in the first match of IPL 2025 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens on March 22.
