Ahead of the start of the IPL 2025 season, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Venkatesh Iyer admitted that he feels the pressure of his hefty price tag of Rs 23.75 crore after being bought by the franchise in last year's mega auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders are prepared for the 2025 IPL season under new leadership, focusing on strong retained players like Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer. With experienced all-rounders including Andre Russell and Sunil Narine,

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will start their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 22 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After getting picked by KKR in the mega auction for Rs 23.75 crore, India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was the front-runner for the captaincy of three-time IPL winners. However, KKR appointed Rahane as their skipper,

KKR CEO Venky Mysore explained choosing Ajinkya Rahane as captain over Venkatesh Iyer, citing Rahane's experience and maturity. Rahane's successful leadership in IPL and international cricket, along with his long history in the league.

Ajinkya Rahane was named the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2025 season, with the franchise choosing experience over youth in their leadership decision. KKR CEO Venky Mysore revealed that while Venkatesh Iyer was considered for the role,

The defending Champions are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening game of IPL 2025 on March 22.