Less than a week out from the IPL 2024 auction, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced that Shreyas Iyer will resume his position as their captain, while Nitish Rana will be his deputy.
Shreyas Iyer missed the IPL 2023 season due to a back injury. Nitish Rana captained the side in Iyer’s absence, but the team finished at the 7th spot, winning 6 matches out of 14.
Shreyas Iyer made his return from the back injury and did well during the World Cup 2023 for India. Barring any further injury between now and the IPL 2024, Iyer will captain KKR next year. Nitish Rana has been named the vice-captain now.
Iyer was purchased by KKR for a big price of INR 12.25 crore in the IPL 2022 mega-auction and was named their captain, after Eoin Morgan was released. Iyer captained KKR in IPL 2022 and there, too, KKR finished at the 7th spot, once again with with 6 wins and 8 losses.
“I believe the last season presented us with several challenges, including my absence due to injury,” Iyer said in a statement released by KKR. “Nitish did a great job not only filling in for me but also with his commendable leadership. I am delighted that KKR has named him vice captain. No doubt it will strengthen the leadership group.”
Gautam Gambhir tweets on Shreyas Iyer being renamed as KKR captain
Gautam Gambhir has rejoined KKR now in the role of a mentor, leaving his association with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) of the last two seasons.
After the news of Shreyas Iyer’s confirmation as KKR’s skipper was announced, Gautam Gambhir made a tweet to show his confidence in Iyer and Rana as the leaders of the team.
Gambhir tweeted: “Congrats Shreyas and Nitish! Leaders ready for battle! @KKRiders”
Gautam Gambhir has been the only captain to lead KKR to an IPL trophy; he did it twice in 2014 and 2012. In search of glory, KKR roped back in Gambhir as a mentor.
Shreyas Iyer and Gambhir had previously worked together briefly for one season in IPL 2018 at Delhi Capitals.
